What does OLAP stand for?

OLAP stands for Online Analytical Processing. This term denotes a category of software technology that allows users to perform multidimensional analysis of business data. OLAP systems are designed to enable complex calculations, trend analyses, and sophisticated data modeling. They facilitate decision-making by allowing users to analyze data in various dimensions and perspectives, making it easier to understand the underlying trends and patterns within the data.

In the context of business intelligence, OLAP systems support the analysis of historical data with a focus on data aggregation and summary, helping businesses gain insights and make informed decisions. The "online" aspect of OLAP indicates that users can access data in real-time, as opposed to being limited to processed data that has to be downloaded or moved offline for analysis.

The other terms provided do not accurately reflect the functionalities and methodologies associated with OLAP, as they either pertain to different or nonexistent concepts within the realm of data analysis and processing.