ETL

Extract Transform Load

Definition
The process of combining heterogenous data sources into a homogenized data target.
ETL architecture diagram

How does it work?

Data extraction involves extracting data from homogeneous or heterogeneous sources; data transformation processes data by data cleaning and transforming it into a proper storage format/structure for the purposes of querying and analysis; finally, data loading describes the insertion of data into the final target database such as an operational data store, a data mart, data lake or a data warehouse.

When should you use it?

  • When you have many data sources, each with its own way of interaction, and you want to handle it in a uniform manner.

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