Definition
A Data Lake is a repository that stores large volumes of data in their original form, regardless of structure, format or source.
Human Explanation
A Data Lake retains raw data before they are prepared for analysis.
Why it Matters
It preserves complete source data so that they can support different analytical purposes in the future.
Conceptual Boundary
A Data Lake is not a Data Warehouse. Its data do not need to be structured or transformed in advance, although both repositories may complement one another within the same architecture.
Practical Perspective
Data Lakes are particularly useful in projects involving large volumes of diverse data and modern analytics.