ETL
Extract Transform Load
A process that extracts data transforms it and loads the result into a target system.
Plain English
Collect data clean or reshape it then store it where it will be used.
In context
ETL commonly prepares source data for warehouses reporting and downstream analysis.
Example
“The nightly ETL normalizes billing records.”
When you'll hear this
- data warehousing
- analytics
- reporting
Common misunderstanding
ELT changes the operation order; teams should not use the terms interchangeably without context.
Also known as
extract transform load
Commonly used by
Related terms
Updated: 2026-08-25
