Formatting (data)
Standardising data into a consistent shape before it enters a downstream system. Examples: converting dates from DD/MM/YYYY to YYYY-MM-DD, normalising phone numbers to E.164 format, capitalising names. Prevents downstream validation errors.
Expert insight
Formatting differences (a phone number stored as "+44 20 1234 5678" in one system and "02012345678" in another) look like a trivial fix but multiply across every workflow that moves that field between the two systems. Normalizing formats at the point of entry, not repeatedly downstream in every workflow, avoids fixing the same formatting mismatch a dozen times.
In a real workflow
Dates are formatted as YYYY-MM-DD before being sent to the accounting system.
Common mistakes
- Formatting for display in data that will be processed later.
- Locale differences in decimals and dates.
Complexity level
Anyone can understand this no technical background needed.
Related terms
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