Exploring Dataverse
For model-driven apps, when we talk about the data model, we mean Dataverse. The data gets stored in tables just like regular databases. The difference lies in the rich set of business-oriented features:
- Leverage a set of standard business tables out of the box with the ability to add your own custom tables.
- Create a table, and it will automatically add all columns to address the underlying process requirements, such as owner info, tracking, status, versioning, and the like.
- Structure your data with various column data types, which helps in complex data modeling scenarios.
- Design relationships and define keys to standard and custom tables to ensure data integrity across the service.
- Enforce security on roles, records, and column levels, giving you complete flexibility when setting up data access.
- Add business features right from the table configuration: data consumption through views, data manipulation through forms, data visualization through dashboards and charts, and last but not least, business rules to apply a set of validations and logic without writing code.
Here's an example of what tables look like:
Figure 2.1 – Table example in Dataverse
To store these tables, Dataverse uses environments that act as a container not only for data but also for all the components that interact with it, such as applications, flows, and business processes.
Besides these features, Dataverse also manages solutions to package apps and components from one environment to another. This feature allows the implementation of application life cycle management (ALM) for the whole Power Platform. For more information, please refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/alm/basics-alm
Dataverse is also the service Dynamics 365 applications use to store data; this means that you can interact with the data that your business is already using.
