# Data Lineage

Data lineage refers to the understanding, capturing and depiction of a data item's lifecycle. It reveals how data has moved across databases, and why.

Data lineage has a significant impact on the data governance process. It's one of the surest ways to manage risk and ensure data is handled following organisational policies and regulatory standards.

<figure><img src="/files/opzUH7Qj6ttu5NFYF4Gn" alt=""><figcaption><p>Data Lineage Process (Learning Centre. (n.d.). <em>What is Data Lineage | Examples of Tools and Techniques | Imperva</em>. [online] Available at: https://www.imperva.com/learn/data-security/data-lineage/.)</p></figcaption></figure>

## Data Lineage Functionality

Data lineage is [graphically represented](/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/viewing-data-lineage-graphically.md) in the Aristotle Metadata Registry, and can be captured for:

* [Data sets](/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/recording-a-data-sets-data-lineage.md), via linkage to other data sets
* [Distributions](/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/recording-a-distributions-data-lineage.md), via linkage to:
  * [Other distributions](/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/recording-a-distributions-data-lineage.md#how-to-record-a-distributions-source-distribution-s)
  * [Data elements](/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/recording-a-distributions-data-lineage.md#how-to-record-a-distributions-data-element-path-s).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.aristotlemetadata.com/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.