A many to many relationship is a relationship where multiple records in one table can match multiple records in another table.
Many to many relationship
A many to many relationship connects two tables where multiple records in one table can match multiple records in another.
Quick facts about many to many relationships
Connects repeated values
Many to many relationships are used when the same value can appear multiple times in both related tables.
Different from one to many
In a one to many relationship, one side has unique values. In a many to many relationship, both sides can contain repeated values.
Used with care
Many to many relationships can be useful, but they need careful modeling to avoid confusing or incorrect report results.
Relevant in Power BI
Power BI can support many to many relationships, but teams still need to understand how filters and calculations behave.
When tables do not connect neatly
Many to many relationships appear when data does not fit a simple one to many structure. For example, one customer can belong to several groups, and one group can include many customers. The same pattern can appear in products, accounts, campaigns or permissions. Many to many relationships can appear in cases such as:
- Customers connected to multiple segments
- Products connected to multiple categories
- Users connected to multiple access groups
- Campaigns connected to multiple channels
This type of relationship can make a model more flexible, but it also makes the logic more sensitive. Report creators need to understand how values are filtered, counted and aggregated before relying on the results.
Flexible models still need clear rules
A many to many relationship can solve a real modeling problem, but it can also make a report harder to explain. If users see totals that do not match expectations, the issue may come from how tables relate to each other behind the report.
In Power BI, many to many relationships should be designed with clear business logic and tested carefully. Skald BI helps teams share finished Power BI reports through a secure branded portal, so customers, partners and internal users can access reporting views built on a model that is clear, controlled and ready to use.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a many to many relationship?
What is an example of a many to many relationship?
An example is customers and segments. One customer can belong to several segments, and one segment can contain many customers.
Why can many to many relationships be difficult?
They can make filtering and aggregation harder to understand, especially when users expect simple totals or direct table relationships.
When should you use a matrix visual?
A matrix visual is useful when users need detailed comparisons, totals or grouped reporting views that are too structured for a basic chart.
How do many to many relationships relate to Skald BI?