Traceability is the ability to verify the history, location, or application of an item by means of documented recorded identification.
- Wikipedia
Data traceability means the path followed by data in moving from one location (origin) to another (destination), various processes and transformation it undergoes while doing so before reaching its intended destination. We have already seen what data lineage is, so what is the difference between lineage and traceability?
Data lineage is often associated with metadata management and governance and has a difference to what data traceability means.
Data lineage is more technical in nature and shows each and every important step the data undergoes when going from origin to destination. This is a very important capability/resource for a technical team but doesn't give much sense to a non-technical business or other users in the enterprise...
