This figure illustrates a dimensional physical data model (usually a star schema, meaning there is one structure for each dimension).

Similar to the relational physical data model, this structure has been modified from its logical counterpart to work with a particular technology to ensure business questions can be answered with simplicity and speed.

A variant of a physical scheme is a Canonical Model, used for data in motion between systems. This model describes the structure of data being passed between systems as packets or messages. When sending data through web services, an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), or through Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), the canonical model describes what data structure the sending service and any receiving services should use. These structures should be designed to be as generic as possible to enable re-use and simplify interface requirements.

This structure may only be instantiated as a buffer or queue structure on an intermediary messaging system (middleware) to hold message contents temporarily.