What does the `dbt run` command accomplish?

The dbt run command is essential in the dbt workflow as it directly executes the SQL code contained within your dbt models. When you run this command, dbt processes the models defined in your project and then creates or refreshes the tables and views in your database based on the logic and transformations specified in those models. This step is pivotal because it is how dbt turns your analytics code into actionable database objects, making your data transformations effective and available for analysis.

In contrast, validating the structure of your dbt project, compiling SQL code without executing it, or creating documentation involves different commands such as dbt debug, dbt compile, and dbt docs generate, respectively. These processes serve important functions in ensuring project integrity, preparing SQL for review, or generating documentation, but they do not perform the core task of executing and materializing the transformed data represented in the models.