What does the term "data lineage" refer to?

The term "data lineage" refers to the history of data as it moves through sources, systems, and transformations. It encompasses the lifecycle of data, allowing organizations to trace the origin of the data, how it has been processed and transformed over time, and where it is being utilized. Understanding data lineage is crucial for data governance, compliance, and ensuring accountability in data management practices. It helps stakeholders understand the data's journey, assess its quality, and verify that it is being used correctly across various analytical processes.

The other options touch on related concepts but do not accurately define data lineage. For example, measuring the amount of data stored in a database relates to data volume rather than its movement history. Visual representations of data, like charts or graphs, fall under data visualization, which is distinct from lineage. Lastly, ensuring data quality is a critical aspect of data management, but it does not inherently address the historical context or movement of the data itself.