Defining a schema source property

models/<filename>.yml

version: 2

sources:
  - name: <source_name>
    database: <database_name>
    schema: <schema_name>
    tables:
      - name: <table_name>
      - ...

Definition

The schema name as stored in the database.

This parameter is useful if you want to use a source name that differs from the schema name.

BigQuery terminology

If you're using BigQuery, use the dataset name as the schema property.

Default

By default, dbt will use the source's name parameter as the schema name.

Examples

Use a simpler name for a source schema than the one in your database

models/<filename>.yml

version: 2

sources:
  - name: jaffle_shop
    schema: postgres_backend_public_schema
    tables:
      - name: orders

In a downstream model:

select * from {{ source('jaffle_shop', 'orders') }}

Will get compiled to:

select * from postgres_backend_public_schema.orders