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Plain-language explanations of the concepts behind data workflows.

ETL vs. ELT: What's the Difference?

Both move and reshape data. The difference is when the transformation happens — before loading, or after.

SQL vs. Visual Data Prep: Which Should You Use?

Writing SQL directly and building a workflow visually solve the same problem differently. Here's how to think about the tradeoff.

What Is a Data Pipeline?

Any automated flow of data from a source to a destination, with some processing in between. Here's what that covers, and doesn't.

What Is a Visual Workflow Builder?

A tool for building data transformations by connecting nodes on a canvas, instead of writing code line by line.

What Is Data Profiling?

The practice of examining a dataset's structure and content — fill rates, distinct values, distributions — before you rely on it.

What Is ETL? A Practical Definition

ETL — Extract, Transform, Load — is the process of pulling data from a source, reshaping it, and writing it somewhere it can be used. Here's what that actually means in practice.