ETL — Extract, Transform, Load
Definition: The classic pattern for moving data: pull from sources, reshape it, then load into a warehouse. ETL was the dominant approach when storage was expensive and compute was scarce.
Example
In engineering planning, you'll often hear something like: "Let's pull the latest ETL numbers before we make a call" — shorthand for extract, transform, load.
When you'll hear it
ETL shows up most often in engineering planning, architecture reviews, and sprint retrospectives. When someone uses it, they're usually referring to extract, transform, load — and they expect the room to already know what that means.
FAQs
What does ETL stand for?
ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load.
What does ETL mean in technology and engineering?
The classic pattern for moving data: pull from sources, reshape it, then load into a warehouse. ETL was the dominant approach when storage was expensive and compute was scarce.
Where will I hear ETL used at work?
ETL comes up most often in engineering planning, architecture reviews, and sprint retrospectives. It's used as shorthand for extract, transform, load, so people assume you already know the term.
Related terms
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