> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lightdash-mintlify-442367ad.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# An intro to metrics and dimensions

## What are metrics and dimensions?

Metrics and dimensions are defined in your dbt project alongside your dbt model properties.

* **Dimensions** are used to **segment data** in your Tables.
* **Metrics** are used to **perform calculations** on your Tables.

Say we're running an ecommerce business, we probably have a table containing all order data. We might want to ask:

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/lightdash-mintlify-442367ad/iGjT3bRWVZxQNBIy/images/get-started/exploring-data/intro-metrics-dimensions/data-question-fcb8af7318d2ac3fbc99c7332cbd4fc6.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=iGjT3bRWVZxQNBIy&q=85&s=21ae8c54156943de46c503a1f8f6d0f6" alt="" width="2007" height="453" data-path="images/get-started/exploring-data/intro-metrics-dimensions/data-question-fcb8af7318d2ac3fbc99c7332cbd4fc6.jpg" />

This question can be answered using a single metric "the total number of unique orders" and a single dimension for splitting the metric by "status of order". In Lightdash you'd get the following chart:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lightdash-mintlify-442367ad/iGjT3bRWVZxQNBIy/images/get-started/exploring-data/intro-metrics-dimensions/what-are-metrics-and-dimensions.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=iGjT3bRWVZxQNBIy&q=85&s=7c2a722d017f8c97e48e3cbadae0f99a" width="2307" height="690" data-path="images/get-started/exploring-data/intro-metrics-dimensions/what-are-metrics-and-dimensions.png" />
</Frame>

To learn more about why we use dimensions and metrics in Lightdash, [read the Lightdash approach to BI](/best-practice/lightdash-way).