# Data Lake

> Source: https://sukruyusufkaya.com/en/glossary/data-lake
> Updated: 2026-05-13T20:02:25.595Z
> Type: glossary
> Category: veri-muhendisligi-ve-ai-altyapisi
**TLDR:** A storage layer where structured and unstructured data is kept in raw or lightly processed form at scale.

<p>A data lake enables more flexible storage of incoming data from multiple sources without imposing strict schema requirements upfront. It is especially advantageous for large-scale raw data, logs, media, sensor streams, and document collections. However, a data lake is not just cheap storage; if poorly managed, it can quickly turn into a data swamp. For that reason, discoverability, metadata, and quality controls must be integral parts of the architecture.</p>