The term data lake refers to a centralized repository that allows organizations to store vast amounts of structured and unstructured data in its native format. Unlike traditional data warehouses, which require data transformation before storage, data lakes enable the collection and storage of raw data. This flexibility supports various data analytics and machine learning applications. Data lakes are characterized by their ability to accommodate diverse data types, making them a valuable resource for organizations aiming to harness big data for advanced insights, reporting, and analytics.