OLAP

A category of software tools that provides an analysis of the data stored in a database. OLAP tools enable users to analyze different dimensions of multidimensional data. ROLAP refers to Relational Online Analytical Processing, and it provides a multidimensional analysis of the data, aggregates, and metadata stored in a relational database management system (RDBMS), where the multidimensional processing may be done within the RDBMS itself, a mid-tier server of the client. There is also MOLAP which refers to the multidimensional component of the data-staging phase.