Glossary
What is data lineage?
Data lineage is the recording of where data comes from and the route it takes: which source a figure comes from and which transformations it has undergone along the way. It helps you trace errors and account for figures.
Data lineage explained
Data lineage shows the chain from source to report: which system a piece of data comes from, which tables and transformations it passes through and which dashboards it ends up in. This can be at table level or even per column.
Its value works in two directions. Looking back: if a figure in a dashboard is wrong, you see where it came from and where it might have gone wrong. Looking ahead: if you want to change a column in the source, you see which reports will be affected.
Lineage is often recorded automatically by tools that run the transformations or scan the metadata, such as dbt, Microsoft Purview or the lineage view in a Power BI workspace. Lineage maintained by hand quickly goes out of date.
Example
Acme Groothandel's board dashboard suddenly shows a lower margin. Through the lineage, the BI specialist sees that margin comes from the order_lines table, which received a new unit_cost column from the ERP yesterday, and finds the cause within minutes.
Data lineage in ENABLE
ENABLE has no lineage feature of its own. You can, however, see in the SQL Explorer and on published Data API endpoints exactly which query produces a result, and the Power BI lineage view remains available in the workspace itself.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between data lineage and a data catalogue?
Data lineage shows the route data takes, from source through transformations to report. A data catalogue is a searchable overview of which data exists, what it means and who owns it. Many catalogues also show lineage.
Why is data lineage important?
Because it lets you trace errors in figures back to their origin and see in advance which reports a change will affect. It also helps you account for figures, for example to an auditor.
Does Power BI have data lineage?
Yes, a Power BI workspace has a lineage view showing how data sources, semantic models, reports and dashboards relate. For lineage across several systems you need separate tools.
Further reading
- SolutionAI governance: control over data, AI and accessWho sees what, what the AI receives and who approves: practical AI and data governance.Read more
- SolutionBuild a data platform: layers, choices and approachFrom sources to dashboards and AI: how a data platform is structured.Read more
- SolutionSingle source of truth: one version of the truthOne central source for your business data, so every department sees the same figures.Read more
- ResourcesGlossary of data, AI and Power BI termsWhat is a service principal, row-level security, a semantic model, text-to-SQL or RAG? Short, clear definitions of terms around data, Power BI and AI.Read more
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