ETL vs ELT: Which Data Integration Approach Should You Choose?
When it comes to managing and analyzing data, the process of data integration plays a critical role in getting raw data from multiple sources into a usable format for analysis. ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) are two common approaches for handling this process, but what’s the difference between the two? And more importantly, which one should you choose for your organization? Let’s dive in and take a closer look at each method and when to use them. What is ETL? ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load —a tried-and-true data integration process that follows a specific sequence: Extract : Data is pulled from different source systems like databases, files, or APIs. Transform : Once extracted, the data is cleaned, filtered, aggregated, and reshaped according to business rules before being loaded into the target system (usually a data warehouse). Load : The transformed data is then loaded into the target system, where it can be analyzed. Key Features of E...