> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dqlabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> What a Standalone Query metric is in Prizm — an independent, scheduled quality measurement not tied to any specific asset or attribute.

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## What is a Standalone Query metric?

Standalone Query metrics are **independent quality measurements not tied to a specific asset or attribute**. They operate at a domain or product level — designed for global KPIs, cross-source aggregations, and business-level indicators that exist above the individual table or column.

**Type:** User-defined — Standalone Query metrics are created manually. Navigate to **Metric → Add** and select **Subcategory: Standalone Query**.

Standalone Query metrics answer the question: *What does quality or performance look like at the business or domain level, independent of any single asset?*

Unlike Query metrics, Standalone Query metrics run on a user-configured schedule rather than being triggered by an asset's operational job. They can query multiple tables and data sources in a single expression. Results appear at the domain or product level in the Prizm catalog rather than on individual asset pages.

### Metrics

| Metric           | Category | Sub Category     | Asset Level      | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| ---------------- | -------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Standalone Query | Business | Standalone Query | Domain / Product | A self-contained metric defined by a SQL query that is not anchored to a specific source table or attribute. Runs on a user-configured schedule and trends the result over time. Results appear at the domain or product level in the Prizm catalog. |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Setup" icon="sliders" href="/architecture/metrics/standalone/setup">
    Step-by-step guide to creating and configuring a standalone query metric.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Cases" icon="lightbulb" href="/architecture/metrics/standalone/usecases">
    Real-world examples — DAU KPI tracking, cross-source revenue reconciliation.
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