What term refers to a subset of the data warehouse that is designed for a single purpose?

A data mart specifically refers to a subset of a data warehouse that is curated for a single purpose or a specific business line. This targeted approach allows organizations to isolate data that is relevant to specific departments or functions, improving accessibility and performance when users query the data. By focusing on a particular subject area, such as sales, finance, or marketing, data marts enable faster data retrieval and a more straightforward analytical process for end-users.

In contrast, a data dictionary serves as a catalog that defines the structure of the data within the warehouse, detailing data elements, relationships, and their formats. It provides metadata that helps users understand the data they are working with. A data repository is a broader term that can refer to any storage space for data, whether it be for raw data or structured data; it does not imply the specific functionality associated with data marts. Finally, a data warehouse is a centralized collection of corporate data from various sources designed for reporting and analysis. It encompasses all data from different domains, rather than being narrowed down for a specific purpose, which distinguishes it from a data mart.