ETL vs. ELT: When to Transform Your Data
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) preps data before storage, like a chef prepping ingredients. ELT loads raw data first, transforming it inside the warehouse. Use ETL for structured reporting; use ELT for flexibility with raw data.
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) are patterns for moving data for analysis. ETL cleans and structures data *before* loading it into a warehouse. ELT loads raw data first and uses the warehouse's power to transform it later. Classic ETL is for structured reporting and compliance. Modern ELT suits cloud warehouses and exploratory analysis. The footgun is assuming ELT is always better; it requires a powerful destination and good governance to avoid a 'data swamp'.
Read the original → Wikipedia: Extract, transform, load
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