Note: This article links out to learning resources created, maintained, and owned by third party resources not affiliated with Coalesce.
Overview
Coalesce provides the "T", or transform, component of an extract, load, and transform, or ELT approach to data integration and data warehousing. With an ELT approach, the transform activities are completed directly on the database in which the data has been previously loaded and use the power of the database rather than servers proprietary to the transformation tool to complete the transformations.
To optimize your experience with Coalesce, it is crucial that you have a good understanding of databases and data warehousing.
What is a database?
A database is a structured collection of data that is stored and accessed electronically. It is designed to manage, store, and retrieve information efficiently. Databases support the operations and management of data in various forms, such as text, numbers, and multimedia.
Databases are essential for a wide range of applications, from simple systems that store user information for websites to complex data warehousing solutions that aggregate vast amounts of information from multiple sources for business intelligence and analytics purposes. They are managed through database management systems (DBMS), which provide the tools and functionalities needed for data insertion, querying, update, and administration, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance.
If you are new to databases or just need to brush up on your core knowledge of them, the video tutorial and resources linked below provide foundational insights that serve as stepping stones to deepen your knowledge of this area.
- What is a Database? An overview from AWS.
- What are Databases? An in-depth explanation from Microsoft Azure.
- Database Overview. A comprehensive look from Wikipedia.
What is data warehousing?
Data warehousing refers to the process of consolidating data from multiple sources into a single, centralized repository designed for analysis. It is a foundational component of business intelligence systems, enabling organizations to aggregate vast amounts of data in a structured format to support decision-making processes. By integrating data from various operational databases, data warehouses provide a unified view of the information, facilitating advanced analytics, reporting, and data mining.
The architecture of a data warehouse is optimized for fast data retrieval and analysis, rather than transaction processing, making it an ideal environment for identifying trends, patterns, and insights that can drive strategic business decisions. Through the use of data warehousing, businesses can improve their operational efficiency, understand customer behavior more deeply, and gain a competitive edge by leveraging data-driven strategies.
If you are new to data warehousing, or are looking for a refresher on the practice, we encourage you to check out the the video tutorial and resources linked below.
- What is a Data Warehouse? An overview from AWS.
- Data Warehouse Overview. A comprehensive look from Wikipedia.
- Cloud Data Warehousing for Dummies. A beginner's guide to data warehousing in the cloud from Snowflake.
If you are looking for more extensive learning resources on data warehousing, both Udemy and Coursera have a number of formal and highly-rated courses on this topic.