Which artifacts are commonly used to document data lineage?

• A. Data lineage diagrams, metadata catalogs, and automated lineage tools.
• B. Data dictionaries and business glossaries only.
• C. Encryption keys and security audits.
• D. User access logs exclusively.

Answer: (A)

Documenting data lineage relies on artifacts that map and record how data travels and changes across systems. The combination of data lineage diagrams, metadata catalogs, and automated lineage tools is the most effective and widely used set for this purpose. Data lineage diagrams provide a visual path from source data through transformations to its final use, making it easier to see where data originates and how it’s altered along the way. Metadata catalogs organize information about data assets, including their relationships, sources, transformations, owners, and lineage links, which helps stakeholders understand provenance and governance across the data landscape. Automated lineage tools continuously capture and refresh lineage information as data pipelines run, offering up-to-date paths without manual updates.

Data dictionaries and business glossaries describe data meanings and business terms, not the flow of data through systems, so they don’t document lineage themselves. Encryption keys and security audits focus on protecting data and validating access controls rather than tracing data movement. User access logs show who interacted with data, not where data moved or how it was transformed.