InfoObjects

InfoObjects are fundamental building blocks within certain data warehousing and business intelligence environments, particularly those based on SAP BusinessObjects. They represent a semantic layer that abstracts the underlying physical data structures, making them understandable and accessible to business users. Think of an InfoObject as a business representation of data. For instance, a physical database table might contain columns like "CUST_ID," "CUST_NM," and "ADDR." An InfoObject could represent "Customer" with attributes like "Customer Name" and "Customer Address," and it would know how to retrieve that information from the correct physical sources.

InfoObjects can take various forms. Common types include characteristics, which represent descriptive data like customer names, product categories, or dates. Key figures, on the other hand, represent numerical or measurable data, such as sales revenue, quantities, or profit margins. Other types might include formulas, variables, or hierarchies. By defining InfoObjects, organizations can ensure consistency in how business terms are used and reported across different analytical tools and reports. This semantic layer is crucial for creating a single source of truth and simplifying data analysis for non-technical users, as they interact with business-friendly terms rather than complex database schemas.