In computing and data management, data mapping is the process of creating data element mappings between two distinct data models. Data mapping is used as a first step for a wide variety of data integration tasks, including:
- Data transformation or data mediation between a data source and a destination
- Identification of data relationships as part of data lineage analysis
- Discovery of hidden sensitive data such as the last four digits of a social security number hidden in another user id as part of a data masking or de-identification project
- Consolidation of multiple databases into a single database and identifying redundant columns of data for consolidation or elimination
For example, a company that would like to transmit and receive purchases and invoices with other companies might use data mapping to create data maps from a company's data to standardized ANSI ASC X12 messages for items such as purchase orders and invoices.
