verwerkingsstap

Verwerkingsstap is a Dutch term that refers to a single operation or action within a processing sequence. The compound consists of verwerken (to process, handle) and stap (step). In technical and organizational contexts, it is used to describe an individual step in a verwerkingsketen, a chain of processing activities that together transform input data or materials into a desired output.

In data processing and information management, a verwerkingsstap is a discrete operation such as filtering, normalization, transformation, enrichment, validation, or aggregation. Each stap has defined inputs and outputs, and the steps are executed in a defined order to ensure data quality and traceability. In ETL pipelines, for instance, verwerkingsstappen correspond to extraction, transformation, and loading operations as well as subsequent cleansing and quality checks. The concept is also common in software engineering and business process management to describe steps in workflows or processing chains within applications and services.

In non-technical contexts, verwerkingsstap can describe a stage in the psychological processing of experiences or emotions, such as recognizing, expressing, interpreting, and integrating events. In these contexts, the term emphasizes progression toward understanding or integration, and it is used in descriptions of emotional processing and coping trajectories.

The term is neutral and descriptive, focusing on the existence and order of operations rather than on specific content. It supports modular design, testing, traceability, and clear documentation of how a larger process is constructed from individual steps.

See also: verwerkingsketen, workflow, ETL, datapipeline.