What is a key characteristic of data lakes?

A key characteristic of data lakes is that data can be stored in its raw form. This means that data isn't pre-processed or organized into a specific schema before it is stored. This flexibility allows organizations to retain a wide variety of data types, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, making it easier to perform analysis later on, when specific queries or insights are needed.

This raw storage capability enables data scientists and analysts to explore datasets without being limited by the constraints of a predefined schema, which can be a significant advantage in big data scenarios where the types of analysis may evolve over time. The ability to store data in its native format also allows for a more agile approach to data handling and analysis, adapting to changing requirements and use cases without the overhead of converting data into a structured database format upfront.