Data mining (DM) is the extraction of hidden predictive information from large databases
(DBs). With the automatic discovery of knowledge implicit within DBs, DM uses
sophisticated statistical analysis and modeling techniques to uncover patterns and relationships
hidden in organizational DBs. Over the last 40 years, the tools and techniques to
process structured information have continued to evolve from DBs to data warehousing
(DW) to DM. DW applications have become business-critical. DM can extract even more
value out of these huge repositories of information.
