Metric Semantic Layer: How Lyft Governs and Scales Key Data Definitions

Written by Rohit Channeand Simran Mirchandani at Lyft.

Motivation

At Lyft, data isn’t just a resource — it’s woven into everything we do. Metrics drive key forecasts, steer operational decisions, and put our boldest hypotheses to the test. But as Lyft scaled, products launched and evolved, and team members came and went, we found ourselves at risk of different teams using different definitions for a given metric. What did “Metric ABC” actually mean? The answer often depended on the context and application of the team you asked.