Data extraction refers to a process whereby data is gathered from various sources like websites, databases, documents, PDF files, emails or even spreadsheets and then converted into a structured form of information for purposes of storage or further analysis. When trying to find out what is data extraction, one must know that it can help organizations save time, cut down on costs and assist in making decisions based on correct information. Data extraction examples include businesses extracting data in order to create reports, watch their competitors, keep customer records and do business intelligence. What is data extraction? The definition of data extraction means much more than just copying the data. Once the data is extracted, the next step is organizing it for analysis and other uses. Most of the organizations today opt for professional data extraction services and data extraction software.