What is the default number of threads in dbt?

In dbt, the default number of threads that can be utilized for model execution is four. This allows dbt to run multiple models simultaneously, which can significantly improve the performance of your data pipeline, especially in environments where there are many interdependent models. Configuring threads effectively is crucial as it balances resource utilization and execution speed.

Using four threads is considered a reasonable default as it provides a good trade-off between performance and the capacity of most systems to handle concurrent tasks. Adjusting this parameter is often necessary based on the available computational resources and the specific workload characteristics of your data transformations. Setting the number of threads higher than the available cores on your machine can lead to resource contention, while setting it too low may not fully utilize system capabilities.