SSIS - What Is ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) ?

ETL Stands for Extract Transform and Load. Every day working at different organization/s we come across different scenarios where we have to extract data from different sources such as Excel, Text Files, XML, Database systems etc. and then clean that data or transform that data according to our required format and save it to Destinations such as Database system or in different file types.

To perform ETL task , there are different tools available in market. Some of them are listed below

• SQL Server Integration Services
• IBM Infosphere Information Server
• PowerCenter Informatica
• Talend Studio for Data Integration
• Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)
• Clover ETL
• Centerprise
• Pentaho Data Integration

SQL Server Integration Services is an ETL tool that can be used to extract data from different types of sources by using Sources (OLE DB Source, File File Source, Excel Source etc.) that are built in the tool.

To Transform data, SSIS Provide different type of transformations such as Aggregate, Lookup, Data Conversion,Derived Column etc. so the source data can be transformed in any required format. 

For Loading, It provides different types of Destinations such as OLE DB Destination, ODBC Destination, ADO Net Destination , Flat File, Raw File ,Excel File etc. where data can be loaded once transformed in required format.