Looker Overview

What is Looker?

Looker is a Business Intelligence (BI) software and big data analytics platform.
It enables business users to explore, analyze, and share real-time data analytics easily.
It is a browser-based, Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.

Looker connects directly to SQL databases.
Can connect to various data sources:
- SaaS applications: Salesforce, Mailchimp, Zendesk
- Transactional databases: Oracle, IBM Db2, Microsoft SQL Server
- Business planning tools: SAP, NetSuite, Oracle
- Web analytics products: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics
Supports over 65 database dialects.

Saves time for data teams and business analysts.
Users define database structure and relationships using Looker Modeling Language (LookML).
LookML acts as an abstraction layer for SQL, guiding Looker on data usage and interpretation.
Automatically generates SQL SELECT queries based on LookML models.

Defines a single source of truth for data, ensuring consistency and reliability.
Enforces data security and governance through:
- Looker user interface (UI): Assigning specific user roles.
- LookML: Providing access to specific fields/rows of data.

Web Interface:
- Explores: Report-builder interfaces.
- Looks: Standalone reports or visualizations.
- Dashboards: Multiple visualizations in one view.
Scheduled Data Deliveries:
- Sending Looks and dashboards to email addresses or Cloud Storage buckets on a one-time or recurring basis.
Embedding:
- Explores, dashboards, and Looks can be embedded in other websites or applications.
REST API:
- Allows retrieval, analysis, and transformation of data and metadata directly from Looker.

Provides a rich development framework supporting enterprise-grade workflows.
Ensures access to the most accurate and up-to-date data.
Enables LookML developers to curate data experiences, ensuring accessibility for users and systems.