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What is a data pipeline and what can go wrong with one?
A data pipeline is an automated process that moves data from source systems into a place where it can be analysed, often cleaning and reshaping it on the way. Common problems include broken connections, changed source formats, duplicated records and silent failures that leave dashboards showing stale numbers.
Pipelines run on schedules or triggers and need monitoring, like any other system.
Reliable pipelines usually have:
- Alerts when a job fails or data stops arriving
- Automated checks, such as row counts and null tests
- Logging so problems can be traced
- Documentation of what each step does
The most dangerous failure is the quiet one, where everything appears to work but the numbers are wrong.
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