Glossary
Data warehouse
Definition
A data warehouse is a database designed for analytical queries over large volumes of structured data, usually loaded from operational systems.
Why it matters when you’re buying
It is the long-standing foundation for reporting and BI. Most cloud warehouses separate storage from compute, so cost depends heavily on how queries and workloads are managed, and on whether data can be exported in open formats.
How it relates to other terms
Data reaches a warehouse through ETL or ELT pipelines, and the lakehouse is the newer design that brings warehouse features to open storage.
Where to go next
- Data & Analytics: news, companies and community questions
- How to evaluate Data & Analytics vendors: criteria, questions to ask and red flags
- Lakehouses and warehouses: the latest stories and threads on this topic
Written by Techarda editors · Updated . Think a definition is wrong or missing something? Email engage@techarda.com. All terms.