Data profiling
Measuring what data actually looks like: counts, ranges, nulls, distinct values and patterns.
Also called: profiling
Profiling describes data as it is: row counts, minimums and maximums, null rates, distinct values and value patterns. It is the evidence base for data quality rules and a strong input for AI that suggests business meaning.
Example: OUTSTANDING_BAL_AMT: 12M rows, min 0, max 4.2M, 0.3% null.
Not to be confused with data quality, which checks data against what it should be.