Data Replication focuses on copying and synchronizing data from one system to another, often in near-real-time, using Change Data Capture (CDC) techniques.
Process:
- Extract: Changes in the source systems (e.g., inserts, updates, deletes) are captured incrementally.
- Replicate: These changes are replicated in near-real-time or at scheduled intervals to a target system.
- Transform/Load: Some transformations might be applied during replication, but often the target system stores the replicated data as-is.
Tools: CDC-based tools include Debezium, Oracle GoldenGate, and AWS DMS (Database Migration Service).
Use Case: CDC and replication are ideal for keeping databases in sync across distributed environments, especially for high-availability systems, disaster recovery, or multi-cloud architectures.