Glossary

Action: A component that is configurable on Checkpoints and integrates Great Expectations with other tools based on a Validation Result, like sending notifications based on the validation's outcomes.

Batch Definition: A configuration for how a Data Asset should be divided into individual Batches for testing.

Batch: A representation of a group of records that validations can be run on. Used in testing individual Expectations, engaging in data exploration, and internally in Validation Definitions and Checkpoints.

Checkpoint: An object that groups Validation Definitions and runs them with shared parameters and automated Actions. Checkpoints are the primary means for validating data in a production deployment of Great Expectations.

Data Asset: A collection of records within a Data Source which are usually grouped based on the underlying data system and can be further sliced into Batches according to a desired specification.

Data Context: A Data Context stores all of the configuration for a project in Great Expectations, and provides an API to access and update it.

Data Docs: Static websites generated from Great Expectations metadata detailing Expectations, Validation Results, etc.

Data Source: An object that tells GX how to connect to a specific source of external data and provides a unified API within GX for organizing that data into Data Assets which can be retrieved.

Expectation: A verifiable assertion about data.

Expectation Suite: A group of Expectations that describe how data should be tested.

Validation Definition: A reference that links an Expectation Suite to data that it describes.

Validation Result: An object generated when data is validated against an Expectation or Expectation Suite.