fieldto

Fieldto is a term used in data processing to describe the operation of transferring or transforming a value from one field to another within a data record or schema. In practice, it refers to the set of rules that define how input fields are mapped to output fields, including renaming, type conversion, defaulting, and validation. The concept is common in ETL pipelines, data integration, and API response shaping, where incoming data must be adapted to a target schema.

Usage of fieldto rules typically involves specifying mappings such as mapping input field names to new field names, applying transformations, and enforcing data formats. For example, a fieldto rule might map an input field labeled “user_email” to an output field named “contact_email,” while applying lowercase normalization and a validity check for an email pattern. Another rule might map “dob” to “birth_date” with date parsing to a standardized format.

Implementation is usually done in a data transformation layer or mapping configuration, either as declarative mappings or through small transformation functions. Fieldto concepts overlap with related techniques such as field aliasing, field renaming, and data type coercion, and are often supported by data integration platforms, API gateways, and streaming or batch processing pipelines.

Origin and status: Fieldto does not represent a formal, widely standardized term in data engineering. Its usage tends to be informal and context-dependent, appearing in tutorials, project documentation, or vendor-specific configuration. As such, the exact meaning and syntax can vary between organizations. See also: data mapping, ETL, schema mapping, data transformation.