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Data & Analytics · Foundational

Data Lake

A central repository that stores large volumes of raw data in any format (structured, semi-structured or unstructured) cheaply, usually in object storage.

Definition

Data lakes keep data in native formats on Amazon S3, ADLS Gen2, Google Cloud Storage or OneLake and apply schema on read. They support data science and big data processing, but without governance and transactions they can degrade into data swamps.

Exam tip

Raw, varied data stored cheaply for future and unknown uses means a data lake; curated, structured BI means a warehouse.

Don't confuse it with

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