What is OneLake

Definition

OneLake is the single, unified, organisation-wide data lake built into Microsoft Fabric, providing one logical storage layer for all Fabric workloads so data is stored once and accessed everywhere without copying, much like OneDrive does for documents.

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Provides one logical lake for all data across the organisation
Eliminates duplicate copies by letting workloads share the same data
Simplifies governance and access with a single storage foundation
Supports shortcuts that reference external data without moving it

Real World Example

An enterprise stores all its Fabric data in OneLake, so its warehouse, lakehouse, and Power BI reports all read the same single copy, and a shortcut links external storage without copying it in.

FAQs

What is OneLake?

It is Fabric's single, unified data lake that stores data once and makes it accessible to every Fabric workload.

How does OneLake reduce data duplication?

Because all workloads share one lake and can use shortcuts to reference data in place, the same data need not be copied across tools.

What are OneLake shortcuts?

Pointers that let OneLake reference data stored elsewhere, internal or external, so it appears in OneLake without being moved.