ETL (extract, transform, and load) tools are used to transfer data between databases or for external use. ETL tools are used for data replication, after which the data will be stored in database management systems and data warehouses. These solutions also help with data extraction for analytics. These software products transform data sets to operate through querying and analysis. Many companies use these tools to create a visual workflow for the data they transfer. Other uses are typically analysis, data cleansing, and structuring data.
It has become increasingly common for data management platforms to extract data from various sources and load it into the target warehouse through ELT (extract, load, and transform). The difference between ETL and ELT is that ELT uses the target system to transform the data instead of pre-processing the data like in ETL.
To qualify for inclusion in the ETL category, a product must:
Facilitate extract, transform, and load processes
Transform data for quality or visualization
Audit or record integration data
Archive data for backup, future reference, or analysis