Data & Databases
Data transformation
Changing data's format, structure, or values so it is usable for a particular purpose.
Example
A transformation converts timestamps to one time zone and calculates order totals.
Why it matters
It makes information usable for a particular analysis or application.
You'll hear it
“These figures were converted to a different unit before comparison.”
Can you control it?
Set by the team
The people building or running the AI choose this setup. An everyday user generally needs their help to change how this part works.
Common questions
- Can transformation change the meaning accidentally?
- Yes. Incorrect rules can alter dates, categories or amounts.
- Does a consistent transformation have to be correct?
- No. The same mistaken rule can be applied reliably to every record.
- Can a transformation be reversed?
- Sometimes, but removed or combined details may be impossible to recover exactly.