Data lineage is the record of where data comes from, how it changes, and where it moves as it passes through different systems. It can trace a data element from its original source through databases, transformations, integrations, and analytics tools to its final destination. This provides visibility into the relationships and transformations behind a dataset rather than simply showing where it is stored.
For example, when a financial report shows a revenue figure, data lineage can reveal which source systems supplied the data and which calculations produced the final value. This makes it easier to investigate errors, assess the impact of system changes, and meet governance requirements. Data lineage is closely related to metadata management, data governance, ETL, and data catalogs.
