What Is Column-Level Lineage?

Column-level lineage traces each column back to the columns it was built from and shows every change on the way. Learn it, then try it free on your own file.

Quick answer: Free data lineage: transform data, then download the result with its lineage report.

Related: Free Data Lineage Tool: Transform Data and Download the Lineage · Free Data Lineage Tool · Data Lineage Report as HTML · Share Your Data Together with Its Lineage · Data Privacy Guides and Free Tools

How to use the What Is Column-Level Lineage?

Free data lineage: transform data, then download the result with its lineage report.

Data Lineage is a free data lineage tool that records the full history of a file as you work. Transform your data in Data Utility (convert, clean, join, mask, filter, query) and every step is kept: the input file and where it came from, the transformation and its settings, and the output with its row count. Open the graph to inspect any step, then follow any single column: a column lineage table shows what every step did to it, and a personal data check shows whether columns that look personal were masked. Then share the proof: download the result together with a lineage report. The report is a single HTML page, a tree from the input file through each transformation to the result, plus a JSON copy and a SHA-256 checksum of the file. Everything runs and is stored in your browser; nothing is uploaded and no account is needed.

  1. Run any tool and save or download the result
  2. Open Data Lineage to see the graph, and pick a column in Follow a column to trace it
  3. Click Result + lineage to download the file with an HTML lineage report

Tips

Example

Input: first_name + last_name

Output: full_name

Browse by topic

Who uses Data Utility

Frequently asked questions · Data format benchmark

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between table-level and column-level lineage?

Table-level lineage shows which tables or files feed which. Column-level lineage shows which columns feed which columns and what was done to them.

Why does it matter?

It answers impact questions fast: where did this field come from, what breaks if I change it, and was the personal data column masked before sharing.

Is the data lineage tool free?

Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser.

How do I share the lineage with my result?

Use Result + lineage in any download bar, or on the Data Lineage page. You get a ZIP with your file, a LINEAGE.html report and a lineage.json copy.

Does it show column-level lineage?

Yes. Pick a column in Follow a column, or open the Column lineage table. Each step is labelled kept, changed, added, renamed, moved or dropped, and new columns show which columns they were built from. Columns are recorded for results you save or download.

What does the lineage report show?

A tree from the input file(s) and where they came from, through every transformation with its settings, to the result with its row count and SHA-256 checksum.

What is Data Lineage?

Data Lineage shows the history of your files as a graph: which tool masked, converted or cleaned a file, and what it did. Click a step to see details, such as which column was masked and how. It is saved in your browser next to Recent files and is never uploaded.

Where is my Data Lineage stored?

Only in your browser, next to Recent files. It is never uploaded. You can name each lineage, and deleting a file deletes its history.

Related pages

Topic guides

Guides