datasource

DataSource is a generic term for any source of data used by an application or processing system. It refers to a defined place from which data can be read or to which data can be written, and it often abstracts the details of how data is stored, located, and accessed. A data source may be a database, a file, a message stream, a web service, or any other repository of information.

In software development, DataSource commonly denotes a data access abstraction. In Java and other enterprise environments, a DataSource object encapsulates the configuration needed to obtain a connection to a database. This pattern separates application logic from the specifics of database drivers and connection strings, simplifying deployment and enabling features such as connection pooling and distributed transactions.

Common data sources include relational databases accessed via JDBC, NoSQL stores, flat files or data lakes, REST or SOAP web services, and streaming platforms. Data sources can be static, providing fixed snapshots, or dynamic, delivering real-time updates. In data integration and ETL/ELT pipelines, the data source is the input; pipelines describe how data is extracted from sources, transformed, and loaded into targets. Metadata about source type, location, and schema supports data governance and lineage tracking.

Security and governance considerations include authentication, encrypted connections, access controls, auditing, and adherence to least-privilege principles and data retention policies.