# 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="https://1464151032-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIXci0eiRxXA0UhVYnwA2%2Fuploads%2FgMJvMQ79H9W23BS32du4%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=283f9901-d858-4d59-801d-620c84e74f9f" 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](https://help.aristotlemetadata.com/subject-matter-and-theory/data-lineage/viewing-data-lineage-graphically) in the Aristotle Metadata Registry, and can be captured for:

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