Data Warehousing: Data Transformation (Definitions)

"A set of operations applied to source data before it can be stored in the destination, using Data Transformation Services (DTS). For example, DTS allows new values to be calculated from one or more source columns, or a single column to be broken into multiple values to be stored in separate destination columns. Data transformation is often associated with the process of copying data into a data warehouse." (Microsoft Corporation, "SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"The process of reformatting data based on predefined rules. Most often identified as part of ETL (extraction, transformation, and loading) but not exclusive to ETL, transformation can occur on the CDI hub, which uses one of several methods to transform the data from the source systems before matching it." (Evan Levy & Jill Dyché, "Customer Data Integration", 2006)

"Any change to the data, such as during parsing and standardization." (Danette McGilvray, "Executing Data Quality Projects", 2008)

"A process by which the format of data is changed so it can be used by different applications." (Judith Hurwitz et al, "Service Oriented Architecture For Dummies" 2nd Ed., 2009)

"Converting data from one format to another|making the data reflect the needs of the target application. Used in almost any data initiative, for instance, a data service or an ETL (extract, transform, load) process." (Tony Fisher, "The Data Asset", 2009)

"Changing the format, structure, integrity, and/or definitions of data from the source database to comply with the requirements of a target database." (DAMA International, "The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management", 2011)

"The SSIS data flow component that modifies, summarizes, and cleans data." (Microsoft, "SQL Server 2012 Glossary", 2012)

"Data transformation is the process of making the selected data compatible with the structure of the target database. Examples include: format changes, structure changes, semantic or context changes, deduping, and reordering." (Piethein Strengholt, "Data Management at Scale", 2020)

"1. In data warehousing, the process of changing data extracted from source data systems into arrangements and formats consistent with the schema of the data warehouse. 2. In Integration Services, a data flow component that aggregates, merges, distributes, and modifies column data and rowsets." (Microsoft Technet)