Overview
Azure Data Factory (ADF) is a cloud-based Extract-Transform-Load data integration service developed by Microsoft. It allows organizations to create, schedule, and manage data pipelines that extract, transform, and load data from various sources into a data warehouse for analysis. ADF is a fully managed service that can be used to create data pipelines in a simple, visual interface, making it easy for users to create and manage data integration processes without the need for extensive programming knowledge.
One of the key features of ADF is its ability to connect to a wide variety of data sources, including on-premises and cloud-based data sources, such as SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, and many more. This allows organizations to easily bring together data from different sources and create a single, unified view of their business.
ADF also includes a wide range of data transformation capabilities, including data mapping, data flow, and data integration. These capabilities can be used to clean, transform, and enrich data before it is loaded into a data warehouse. Additionally, ADF also includes a built-in scheduler, which allows users to schedule data pipelines to run at specified intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.
Another powerful feature of ADF is the ability to create a code-free pipeline development experience using visual authoring tools and a library of pre-built connectors and activities. This makes it easy for users to create and manage data integration processes without the need for extensive programming knowledge.
ADF also includes a variety of security and compliance features, such as Azure Active Directory integration and data encryption, making it an ideal tool for organizations that need to meet strict security and compliance requirements.
