How can I run a model in dbt? What command should I use?

To run a specific model in dbt, use the dbt run command with the --models (or -m) flag followed by the model name or selector. For example:

dbt run --models my_model

This compiles and executes only my_model. You can also use selectors like + to include dependencies, ~ to exclude, or tags. For instance, to run a model and all its downstream models:

dbt run --models +my_model

If you want to run only the models that depend on my_model, use:

dbt run --models my_model+

The command will compile the SQL, run it against the target database, and log the results. You can add --full-refresh to rebuild tables from scratch or --debug for verbose output. These options give you fine‑grained control over which models execute during a dbt run.