The universal semantic layer, as described in Cube's approach, aims to reduce work across teams by providing unified metrics and a governed location for data modeling. It addresses the challenges of metadata fragmentation, maintenance burden, persona-specific needs, discovery difficulties, and provides a shared understanding between technical and business teams. By embedding catalog functionality within this layer, users can access what they need in one place, see connected data assets and their relationships, and visualize dependencies and downstream effects. The universal semantic layer offers advantages such as production integration, consistent governance, business context, and shared understanding. Its self-documenting and always-current nature, unified search capabilities, comprehensive lineage and impact analysis, and reduced duplication make it an ideal location for catalog functionality, promoting collaboration between technical and business teams and improving data discovery, trustworthiness, and value.