Snowflake Materialized View: Striking a Cost-Performance Balance

Danielle Vansia's blog post explores the balance between cost and performance when using views in Snowflake, particularly focusing on the differences between non-materialized and materialized views. Non-materialized views, simply referred to as views by Snowflake, do not store data themselves but offer a dynamic way to manage data access and simplify complex queries, while materialized views store pre-computed results to enhance query performance, especially in complex or large datasets. However, materialized views incur additional storage costs, making it essential for data engineers and analysts to assess whether the performance benefits justify the expenses. The article provides practical examples, such as using a non-materialized view for real-time video watch statistics and a materialized view for top-rated videos, to illustrate appropriate use cases. It also suggests optimization strategies, including employing tools like Snowflake's Query History and Search Optimization Service, to enhance data warehouse performance and cost-efficiency. Ultimately, the article emphasizes the importance of carefully considering specific use cases to maintain a cost-effective and efficient data warehouse.