Model properties

Models properties can be declared in .yml files in your models/ directory (as defined by the model-paths config).

You can name these files whatever_you_want.yml, and nest them arbitrarily deeply in subfolders within the models/ directory.

Availability

The latest YAML spec is supported in the following environments:

• dbt platform (Latest release track): Available now
• dbt Fusion engine: Available now
• dbt Core: Support coming in v1.12 (May 2026)

For more information, refer to Migrate to the latest YAML spec.

Available top-level model properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	The model name (must match the model filename).
description	string	No	Documentation for the model.
columns	array	No	List of column definitions.
config	object	No	Model configuration (materialization, tags, etc.).
constraints	array	No	Model-level constraints (primary key, foreign key, etc.).
data_tests	array	No	Model-level data tests.
tests	array	No	Legacy alias for data_tests.
versions	array	No	Model version definitions.
latest_version	string/float	No	The latest version of the model.
deprecation_date	string	No	Date when the model is deprecated.
access	string	No	Access level: private, protected, or public. Supported at the top-level for backwards compatibility only.
time_spine	object	No	Time spine configuration for the Semantic Layer.
semantic_model	object	No	Latest YAML spec only. Enable semantic model configuration for the Semantic Layer with enabled: true. For other properties, refer to Semantic model properties.
metrics	array	No	Latest YAML spec only. Metrics derived from this semantic model; list is alongside (not under) semantic_model and columns. For other properties, refer to Metric properties.

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