Data Glossary
Dive into our comprehensive database glossary. Quickly find terms and concepts using the search bar or browse alphabetically for a thorough exploration.
B
BASE - Basically Available, Soft state, Eventual consistency
A design philosophy for distributed systems (often NoSQL) focusing on availability over strict consistency.
BI - Business Intelligence
A set of techniques and tools for the acquisition and transformation of raw data into meaningful and useful information for business analysis.
C
CDC - Change Data Capture
A method of tracking and capturing changes (inserts, updates, deletes) in a source system so they can be replicated or acted upon.
CRDT - Conflict-free Replicated Data Type
A type of data structure used in distributed systems that can be updated independently and merged automatically without conflicts, ensuring eventual consistency.
CRUD - Create, Read, Update, Delete
The four basic operations for persistent storage in databases.
CSV - Comma-Separated Values
A lightweight, plain-text data format where each line is a data record and columns are separated by commas.
D
DBaaS - Database as a Service
A cloud service model where a provider manages the database infrastructure, allowing users to focus on data rather than server management.
DBMS - Database Management System
Software for creating, querying, and managing databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle).
DCL - Data Control Language
SQL commands that deal with rights, permissions, and other controls (e.g., GRANT, REVOKE).
DDL - Data Definition Language
SQL commands (CREATE, ALTER, DROP, etc.) that define or modify database structures.
DML - Data Manipulation Language
SQL commands (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) used for querying and modifying data.
E
ERD - Entity Relationship Diagram
A conceptual model (or diagram) that describes the structure of a database by illustrating entities and the relationships between them.
ELT - Extract, Load, Transform
A data integration pattern where raw data is Extracted, Loaded into a target system (like a data lake/warehouse), and Transformed within that environment.
ETL - Extract, Transform, Load
The classic data integration process of Extracting data, Transforming it into a fit-for-purpose structure, and Loading it into a target (often a data warehouse).
O
OLAP - Online Analytical Processing
Systems designed for analyzing large volumes of data, supporting complex queries and aggregations (commonly used for business intelligence and data warehousing).
OLTP - Online Transaction Processing
Systems optimized for high-volume, transactional workloads, such as financial or retail transactions.
R
RDBMS - Relational Database Management System
A database system (like PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle) that stores data in related tables, supporting ACID transactions and SQL queries.
RLS - Row-Level Security
A database feature that applies security policies at the row level to restrict user access based on credentials or context.
