L
label
A title or tag applied to a data attribute that concisely describes the entity or attribute type and/or content for ease of sorting, filtering, or scanning for relevance.
language
- A system of communication using sounds (spoken language) or symbols (written language).
- DCMI element in element set Instantiation: the terminology set used to describe a resource. SEE ALSO Dublin Core Metadata Initiative.
last valid date
The last date that an attribute or entity instance is valid.
latency
The measure of time between two events, such as the initiation and completion of an event, or the read on one system and the write to another system.
layer
A group of functionally related components within an architecture representing a level of abstraction different from other layers within the architecture.
layer chart
SEE chart, layer.
learning curve
The average time it takes a person to learn how to use or master a tool or technique.
left join
SEE join, left.
legacy data
Data that comes from production files and databases that stand outside of, or came from a previous form of, the organization’s data architecture.
legacy system
An application implemented outside of, or from a prior version of, an organization’s application architecture. Usually an older application that may be slated for eventual replacement. Legacy systems are often frustrating because they are difficult to change, few people know exactly what they do and how they do it, and/or the technology on which they are dependent is becoming obsolete and unsupportable.
level
A group of codes that are characterized by homogeneous coding, and where the parent of each code in the group is at the same higher level of the hierarchy.
leverage
Taking full advantage of a resource to effectively achieve a desired outcome.
lexicon
- In general, a glossary or dictionary.
- In data management, a computer-readable data dictionary of attributes.
liability
A possession and responsibility for current economic costs, such as a debt; the opposite of an asset.
lie factor
In charts, a ratio of the size of a graphical representation of an item or effect to the size of the effect within the data itself. The lie factor describes how far off the graphic representation shown is in respect to the actual data driving the chart.
lifecycle
- The set of valid states of an object, arranged in sequence from “birth” to “death.” Usually depicted in a state transition diagram.
- A shorthand reference for the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
lifecycle diagram
lifetime value (LTV)
Alternate form: customer lifetime value
The 'present' value of 'future' cash flows expected from a something (equipment or property) or someone (customer or citizen) over an anticipated timeframe, computed using the costs of acquisition and retention, in order to estimate profitability.
line chart
SEE chart, line.
lineage
The relationship path from a start point to a finish point.
lineage, data
The path that a data attribute travels between systems, and the alterations made during that journey.
lineage, meta-data
The path that meta-data travels between the source systems and the meta-data repository.
linear
Relating to a line, or with a progression that strongly resembles a line.
list partitioning
SEE partitioning, list.
literal
- A constant value provided for a variable.
- Adjective. Describes conformance with strict meaning.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A computer network covering a limited physical area, such as an office or a building.
local index
SEE index, local.
location transparency
A mechanism that keeps the specific physical address of an object from a user. The physical location is resolved within the system so that operations can be performed without knowledge of the actual physical location.
lock
A means of preventing access to data while a process is updating that data.
lock contention
Occurs when a one process requests and is denied a lock to a resource because it is held by another process.
lock granularity
The level of data that is involved in a lock. Lock granularity can be at any level of physical data: database, block, set of tables, row, or column level, and include any amount of data contained within those objects.
log
In data management, a collection of records that describe the sequence of events that occur during DBMS execution, recorded for use in database recovery in the event of a DBMS failure. SEE ALSO journal.
log shipping
The process of sending transaction log backups to other servers for reapplying the logs to replicate the state of a system.
Logical Data Model (LDM)
SEE data model, logical.
logistic regression
A modeling technique where unknown values are predicted by known values of other valuables where the dependent variable is binary type. SEE ALSO predictive modeling.
Logistics
The management of flows of goods, information, resources, etc. in a logical progression between points of origin, consumption, and destruction.
log-write-ahead
A process of writing data where modifications are written to a log before being applied to the stored data at rest.
loose coupling
An arrangement whereby components can be easily attached and detached, enabling easier configuration changes. SEE ALSO design.
lower control limit
SEE control limit, lower.