Data Lake

A data lake is a centralized storage system that holds vast amounts of raw data in its native format until it's needed. Unlike traditional databases that store structured data (like spreadsheets), a data lake can accommodate all types of data—structured, semi-structured, and unstructured—such as text, images, and videos. This flexibility allows organizations to keep large volumes of information without needing to sort or categorize it immediately. When needed, data can be processed, analyzed, and transformed for specific uses, making data lakes valuable for businesses seeking to leverage big data for insights and decision-making.