Data conversion

Data conversion

Data conversion is the conversion of one form of computer data to another--the changing of bits from being in one format to a different one, usually for the purpose of application interoperability or of capability of using new features. At the simplest level, data conversion can be exemplified by conversion of a text file from one character encoding to another.

Data Transformations:
In metadata, a data transformation converts data from a source data format into destination data.

Data transformation can be divided into two steps:
data mapping maps data elements from the source to the destination and captures any transformation that must occur
code generation that creates the actual transformation program

Data element to data element mapping is frequently complicated by complex transformations that require one-to-many and many-to-one transformation rules.

Data mapping is the process of creating data element mappings between two distinct data models. Data mapping is used as a first step for a wide variety of data integration tasks including:
Data transformation or data mediation between a data source and a destination.

Identification of data relationships as part of data lineage analysis
Discovery of hidden sensitive data such as the last four digits social security number hidden in another user id as part of a data masking or de-identification project
Consolidation of multiple databases into a single data base and identifying redundant columns of data for consolidation or elimination.

Metadata:
The metadata is the “data about data”. as information that describes, or supplements, the central data.
Example: "12345" is data, and with no additional context is meaningless. When "12345" is given a meaningful name (metadata) of "ZIP code", one can understand (at least in the United States, and further placing "ZIP code" within the context of a postal address) that "12345" refers to the General Electric plant in Schenectady, New York.