ELT

ELT (Extract, Load, Transfer) is a data preparation approach used for transferring data from one source to another. It is the process of extracting data from a source, loading it into a data warehouse, and then transferring it to its destination. ELT is becoming increasingly popular as companies are dealing with increasingly large datasets and need to quickly move data between various systems.

ELT is often confused with ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) which is a related approach that extracts, cleans, and restructures data before it is loaded into the data warehouse. ELT is more flexible as it allows for the destination system to apply its own set of rules and transformations to the gathered data. In addition, ELT can be faster as it leverages the computing power of the destination which can be a much faster processor than the source.

The process of ELT typically begins with the data extraction step, which pulls data from various sources such as relational databases or files. This data is then loaded into a staging area in the form of a flat file or table. The second step, loading, will then format and store the data in the data warehouse. The last step, transferring, moves the data to the destination system.

ELT is gaining traction in large organizations which need to quickly move data from multiple sources to a data warehouse while still benefiting from the transformation capabilities of the destination. This approach provides a way to quickly move data without sacrificing the flexibility of the destination system.