Glossary
Data foundation
A data foundation is the set of shared definitions, identifiers, and quality rules that let records from different systems be joined reliably. It comes before any model, dashboard, or agent.
Why it matters
Without shared identifiers, the same customer is several records, and every count is wrong.
How Limerine uses the term
It is the first stage of every build.
Related module: Foundation and governance.
How to cite this definition
Limerine Research. "Data foundation." Limerine Glossary, 2026. https://limerine.com/glossary/data-foundation