'ETL' stands for Extract, Transform, Load, which is a data processing framework. ETL refers to the three essential steps involved in moving data from source systems to a data warehouse or similar storage. During the extract process, data is gathered from varied sources; in the transform phase, it is cleaned and formatted for consistency; finally, in the load step, the processed data is transferred into the target system for analysis and reporting. ETL processes ensure that organizations have accurate and reliable data for decision-making.