What Is Common Data Service (CDS)?
Common Data Service, commonly known as CDS, is a cloud data storage platform more like a database. The most common form of data storage in CDS is in tables referred to as ‘entities.’
CDS contains a set of already prepared entities for various purposes, but it also allows you to create custom entities per your needs and fill them up using Power Query. The data is stored in such a form that it is easily accessible by integrated applications like Power Platform.
The most common use of CDS is by Power Apps as business apps developed by citizen developers for business purpose requires cloud storage for efficient working. However, other apps of Power Platform, especially Power BI, can efficiently utilize CDS for aggregating and visualizing data.
In short, CDS is a database used for storing and receiving data which you can access using Power Platform and a few other Microsoft Services.
CDS and Power Apps
In case you are a citizen developer building apps for your company using Power Apps, then most obviously, you will need a database to store the data from users that are using those apps. CDS provides you the opportunity to do this without extra hassle.
One important thing to note here is that CDS is free of cost if you have a subscription of Power Platform. While on the other hand, some people prefer Azure SQL database, which requires setting up a gateway and costs separately.
CDS and Power BI
Power BI, a part of the Power Platform used for data visualization, can also benefit from CDS. You can use CDS as a data source to aggregate data from in Power BI and visualize and analyze it.
How to Load Data into CDS?
If you have decided to use CDS, you must be wondering how to load data into CDS. Here are steps you can follow to complete this easy process.
- After logging into the Power Apps portal, select ‘get data and Power Query Experience to load data into the CDS.
- While developing an app using Power Apps, you can select the Common Data Service (CDS) option as a database.
- In Power Automate, you can create a flow for uploading data to CDS automatically.
Summary
Common Data Service or CDS is a cloud-based data storage system used as a database by the Power Platform apps like Power Apps. CDS stores in the form of tables which are named entities by the database. Apps developed by Power Apps use CDS to store and retrieve data as it is included within the subscription of Power apps and is free of cost.
