What type of data does the bronze layer in the medallion architecture contain?

The bronze layer in the medallion architecture is designed to contain unvalidated data in its raw state. This foundational layer serves as the initial point of ingestion for data, where it retains its original form without any processing or transformation. Storing data in this raw state allows for maximum flexibility, as it can be utilized later for various purposes such as exploration, transformation, or validation in subsequent layers (silver and gold).

By retaining data in its unprocessed form, organizations can ensure that they have access to the complete dataset, which can be useful for audits, original analytics, or retrospective analysis, should the need arise to revisit or reprocess the data in the future. This layer is critical for establishing a comprehensive data pipeline that supports further refinement and analysis, which occurs in the subsequent layers of the medallion architecture.