data lineage
DAY-tah LIN-ee-ij
ˈdeɪtə ˈlɪniɪdʒListen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
the tracking of data's origins, movements, transformations, and dependencies through the entire data lifecycle; answers 'where did this data come from, how was it changed, and where does it flow?'; critical for data governance, regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA), debugging data quality issues, and impact analysis (understanding which downstream reports will break if a source table changes); captured in metadata catalogs and data lineage tools
Examples
- Data lineage documentation showed regulators exactly how the loan decision data was derived.
- When the source schema changed, data lineage graphs immediately revealed all affected downstream pipelines.
Synonyms: data provenance, data traceability
Pronunciation tips
Lineage comes from Latin linea (line, thread). The 'e' in 'lin-e-age' is often silent: say 'LIN-ij' or 'LIN-ee-ij'. Both are acceptable.
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