What file is typically modified to include new packages in a dbt project?

In a dbt project, the file that is typically modified to include new packages is packages.yml. This file serves as a manifest that lists all the dependencies or packages that the project will utilize. By adding the desired package names and their versions in packages.yml, you instruct dbt to install and incorporate these packages into your project during the execution of dbt commands.

The significance of using packages.yml lies in its role in project modularity and maintenance, allowing developers to easily manage and update external packages. When a new package is added, dbt fetches the package and makes its functionalities available in the project, enhancing the project's capabilities.

The other files mentioned have different purposes: dbt_project.yml contains project-level configurations, schema.yml is used to define the schema for models (including metadata about tests), and profiles.yml stores connection configurations for data warehouse connections. None of these files are meant for specifying package dependencies.