Register a Data Element

TL;DR

Turn a raw table column (like annual_inc) into a named, governed Data Element that Features, Models, and Policies can use. Set the Data Type, point it at the source column, and create. This page covers the Simple case (one column → one value); for values computed across many rows, see Data Aggregate.

What is it?

The Data Element page is your catalog of every data point available on the platform. Each Data Element points at one column of one registered DataTable and wraps it with metadata, governance, and versioning, so the column can be referenced by name across Features, Models, and Policies.

Raw columnannual_inc

→

Data ElementAnnual Income

→

Features

Models

Policies

This page covers the Simple case, where one column maps to one value. For values that have to be computed across many rows (like “max DPD in the last 6 months”), see Data Aggregate.

Benefits of a registered Data Element

1. A navigable Data Dictionary

Raw columns are often hard to read (annual_inc, cust_lst_pymt_dt_30d). Registering one as a Data Element lets you give it a clear name, alias, and description, building a Data Dictionary new users can actually navigate.

2. Governance, versioning, and lineage

• Tag a Data Element with its Permissible Purpose to control where it can be used (for example, marking gender or race as PII so they cannot flow into marketing Features).
• Every change is versioned, so you can see what the Data Element looked like at any point and which downstream objects used which version.
• Downstream lineage shows every Feature, Model, and Policy using the Data Element, at which version.

How to Register

Follow these steps to register a Data Element.

Open the Create Form

On the Data Vault → Data Element page, click + New Data Element.

A name prompt opens first. Enter a descriptive name for the Data Element (for example, Account Vintage In Years) and confirm to land on the full Data Element form.

Fill in Attributes

Set the Data Type * - the type of value stored (for example, numerical, string, boolean, date). Fill in the Alias and Entity. See Common Registration Info.

Leave Is Aggregated unticked.

Fill in Definition

Point at the column you want to expose:

• Source Table * - the registered DataTable that contains the column.
• Source Column * - the specific column to map.

Point the Data Element at the registered table and column it should expose.

Fill in Properties and Create

Fill in the Properties (Description, Permissible Purpose, Group, and Keywords), then click Create at the bottom right. The Data Element is saved as a draft and you land on its details page.

What’s Next

Once registered, the Data Element can be used across Features, Models, and Policies. You can also run a simulation on it (with reports for summary statistics, distributions, and percentage of missing values) and trace its lineage to every downstream object.

Next steps:

• Build a Feature on top of this Data Element.
• Send the Data Element for approval so it can be used outside your draft workspace.
• Need a value computed across multiple rows? Register a Data Aggregate instead, same flow, different Definition section.