What is the difference between a Control Flow and Data Flow in SSIS?

In SSIS, the Control Flow and Data Flow are two key components that handle different aspects of the ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process.

Control Flow:

The Control Flow in SSIS is responsible for the overall execution logic of the package. It consists of tasks and containers that control the workflow, sequence, and logic of the package execution. Control Flow tasks include operations such as executing SQL statements, copying files, sending emails, and running other packages.

Data Flow:

The Data Flow in SSIS is responsible for the movement and transformation of data within the package. It consists of sources, transformations, and destinations that extract data from sources, perform data manipulations, and load data into destinations. Data Flow tasks include operations such as extracting data from databases, transforming data using expressions or lookup operations, and loading data into target systems.

Differences:

• Control Flow focuses on the control and execution of the package, while Data Flow focuses on the movement and transformation of data.
• Control Flow tasks control the flow and execution logic of the package, while Data Flow tasks handle data processing operations.
• Control Flow tasks include operations such as executing scripts and running packages, while Data Flow tasks include operations such as transforming data and loading data into destinations.