Fabric Semantic Models: Direct Lake or Import—which Boosts Your Data Efficiency?

Key insights

• Direct Lake allows users to connect directly to data stored in a lake, providing real-time access and faster query performance.


• Import Mode involves loading data into the model, which can improve speed for repeated queries but may not show the latest updates instantly.


• Fabric semantic models support both Direct Lake and Import methods, giving flexibility based on data freshness and performance needs.


• Real-time analytics are easier with Direct Lake because it always retrieves current data from the source.


• Data refresh is needed with Import Mode to update information, while Direct Lake eliminates this step by reading live data.


• Selecting between Direct Lake and Import Mode depends on how often your data changes and your requirements for speed or up-to-date results.

Keywords

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