analytics-dictionary / term / bi & reporting
Live connection vs extract
A live connection queries the warehouse every time a dashboard loads; an extract is a stored copy refreshed on a schedule.
Written by Reflective Data experts · updated Oct 5, 2026
Live connections are always fresh but can be slow and costly on large data. Extracts load fast and cost less, with data only as fresh as the last refresh.
Many teams combine both: extracts for heavy dashboards, live for operational ones.
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