Data extraction is the process of retrieving relevant data from a dataset, database, or other source for further processing, analysis, and storage somewhere else. It can then be loaded into a destination system for further analysis and reporting. The four steps of data extraction are:
- Source Identification – determining where the data is going to be extracted from
- Extraction – using a variety of techniques, ranging from SQL queries to web scraping tools, to extract the data from the chosen source
- Data Transformation – cleaning, formatting, and transforming the data into a format that is compatible with the destination system
- Loading – loading the extracted, transformed data into the target system where it can be stored or further analyzed.
Data extraction enables companies to pull data from different sources that allows the company to make smarter, more well informed decisions. It is a fundamental process in the data management lifecycle.