What does a Fact Table contain in a database schema?

A fact table in a database schema is primarily designed to contain quantitative data for analysis and is characterized by having metrics, which are called facts or measures. These metrics often represent transactions or events that are key to understanding performance within the context of the database's business model.

The correct answer highlights that a fact table typically includes metrics, which are numerical values used for analysis, reporting, and decision-making. However, a defining feature of fact tables is that they usually also incorporate foreign keys. Foreign keys link the fact table to dimension tables, which provide the descriptive context for the metrics. This structure allows users to analyze the facts in relation to various dimensions, such as time, geography, products, or customer segments.

In addition to metrics, the nature of the analysis often necessitates that a fact table can be normalized, meaning that it can interact smoothly with related dimension tables.

The other options reflect misunderstandings about the structure and purpose of a fact table. For instance, descriptive data for measures typically resides in dimension tables rather than in the fact table itself, and aggregated data measures are often part of a summary-level analysis that may not fit within the standard definition of a fact table. Therefore, it's clear that while metrics are crucial to a fact table, the absence