Types and Formats

Measure Types

This section describes the various types that can be assigned to a measure. A measure can only have one type.

string

This measure type allows defining measures as a string value. In the example below, we create a string measure by converting a numerical value to a string:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: high_or_low
        sql: "CASE WHEN {CUBE.number} > 100 THEN 'high' ELSE 'low' END"
        type: string

time

This measure type allows defining measures as a time value. In the example below, we create a time measure from an existing dimension:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: last_order
        sql: "MAX(created_at)"
        type: time
    
    dimensions:
      - name: created_at
        sql: created_at
        type: time

boolean

The boolean measure type can be used to condense data into a single boolean value.

The example below adds an is_completed measure which only returns true if all orders have the completed status:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: is_completed
        sql: "BOOL_AND(status = 'completed')"
        type: boolean

number

The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression that results in a number or integer. Type number is usually used, when performing arithmetic operations on measures. Learn more about Calculated Measures.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: purchases_ratio
        sql: "{purchases} / {count} * 100.0"
        type: number
        format: percent

You can put any sql into number measure as long as it's an aggregate expression:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: ratio
        sql: "SUM({CUBE}.amount) / count(*)"
        type: number

count

Performs a table count, similar to SQL’s COUNT function. However, unlike writing raw SQL, Cube.js will properly calculate counts even if your query’s joins will produce row multiplication. You do not need to include a sql parameter for this type.

drill_members parameter is commonly used with type count. It allows users to click on the measure in the UI and inspect individual records that make up a count. Learn more about Drill Downs.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: number_of_users
        type: count
        drill_members:
          - id
          - name
          - email
          - company

count_distinct

Calculates the number of distinct values in a given field. It makes use of SQL’s COUNT DISTINCT function.

The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression that results in a table column, or interpolated JavaScript expression.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: unique_user_count
        sql: user_id
        type: count_distinct

count_distinct_approx

Calculates approximate number of distinct values in a given field. Unlike count_distinct measure type, count_distinct_approx is decomposable aggregate function or additive. This allows its usage in additive rollup pre-aggregations which are much more versatile than non-additive ones. It uses special SQL backend-dependent functions to estimate distinct counts, usually based on HyperLogLog or similar algorithms. Wherever possible Cube will use multi-stage HLL which significantly improves calculation of distinct counts at scale.

The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: unique_user_count
        sql: user_id
        type: count_distinct_approx

sum

Adds up the values in a given field. It is similar to SQL’s SUM function. However, unlike writing raw SQL, Cube will properly calculate sums even if your query’s joins will result in row duplication.

The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression that results in a numeric table column, or interpolated JavaScript expression. sql parameter should contain only expression to sum without actual aggregate function.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: revenue
        sql: amount
        type: sum

      - name: revenue_2
        sql: "{charges_amount}"
        type: sum

      - name: revenue_3
        sql: fee * 0.1
        type: sum

avg

Averages the values in a given field. It is similar to SQL’s AVG function. However, unlike writing raw SQL, Cube will properly calculate averages even if your query’s joins will result in row duplication.

The sql parameter for type: average measures can take any valid SQL expression that results in a numeric table column, or interpolated JavaScript expression.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: avg_transaction
        sql: "{transaction_amount}"
        type: avg

min

Type of measure min is calculated as a minimum of values defined in sql.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: date_first_purchase
        sql: date_purchase
        type: min

max

Type of measure max is calculated as a maximum of values defined in sql.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: date_last_purchase
        sql: date_purchase
        type: max

running_total

Type of measure running_total is calculated as summation of values defined in sql. Use it to calculate cumulative measures.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: total_subscriptions
        sql: subscription_amount
        type: running_total

Measure Formats

When creating a measure you can explicitly define the format you’d like to see as output.

percent

percent is used for formatting numbers with a percent symbol.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: purchase_conversion
        sql: "{purchase} / {checkout} * 100.0"
        type: number
        format: percent

currency

currency is used for monetary values.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    measures:
      - name: total_amount
        sql: amount
        type: running_total
        format: currency

Dimension Types

This section describes the various types that can be assigned to a dimension. A dimension can only have one type.

time

In order to be able to create time series charts, Cube needs to identify time dimension which is a timestamp column in your database.

You can define several time dimensions in data models and apply each when creating charts. Note that type of target column should be TIMESTAMP. Please use this guide if your datetime information is stored as a string.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: completed_at
        sql: completed_at
        type: time

string

string is typically used with fields that contain letters or special characters. The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression.

The following model creates a field full_name by combining 2 fields: first_name and last_name:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: full_name
        sql: "CONCAT({first_name}, ' ', {last_name})"
        type: string

number

number is typically used with fields that contain number or integer.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: amount
        sql: amount
        type: number

boolean

boolean is used with fields that contain boolean data or data coercible to boolean. For example:

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: is_enabled
        sql: is_enabled
        type: boolean

geo

geo dimension is used to display data on the map. Unlike other dimension types it requires to set two fields: latitude and longitude.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: location
        type: geo
        latitude:
          sql: "{CUBE}.latitude"
        longitude:
          sql: "{CUBE}.longitude"

Dimension Formats

image_url

image_url is used for displaying images in table visualization. In this case sql parameter should contain full path to the image.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: image
        sql: "CONCAT('https://img.example.com/id/', {id})"
        type: string
        format: image_url

id

id is used for IDs. It allows to eliminate applying of comma for 5+ digit numbers which is default for type number. The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: image
        sql: id
        type: number
        format: id

link

link is used for creating hyperlinks. link parameter could be either String or Object. Use Object, when you want to give a specific label to link. See examples below for details.

The sql parameter is required and can take any valid SQL expression.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: order_link
        sql: "'http://myswebsite.com/orders/' || id"
        type: string
        format: link

      - name: crm_link
        sql: "'https://na1.salesforce.com/' || id"
        type: string
        format:
          label: View in Salesforce
          type: link

currency

currency is used for monetary values.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: amount
        sql: amount
        type: number
        format: currency

percent

percent is used for formatting numbers with a percent symbol.

cubes:
  - name: orders
    # ...

    dimensions:
      - name: open_rate
        sql: "COALESCE(100.0 * {uniq_open_count} / NULLIF({delivered_count}, 0), 0)"
        type: number
        format: percent