Data Ingestion is the process of collecting and importing data from multiple sources into a system where it can be stored, processed, or analyzed. Sources may include databases, applications, APIs, sensors, files, and websites. Ingestion can happen in batches at scheduled intervals or continuously as new data becomes available.
The method used depends on how quickly the data is needed and how it is generated. For example, an IoT platform may ingest sensor readings continuously for real-time monitoring, while a business may ingest daily sales files for reporting. Data Ingestion is a foundational step in data pipelines and commonly works with ETL, data integration, streaming, and data storage technologies.
