# Data: The First 50 Years

Revision 1 (11 October 2026) · Modeled snapshot · through 8 October 2026.

All figures are research-informed estimates of analytical activity. Significant errors may remain; decimal places do not imply measurement precision.

An interactive history of the access, compute, and storage layers of the analytical data stack, 1976–2026, published by Columnar Technologies.

The visualization follows how the layers became more independent. Portable interfaces spread across databases; shared files and open tables expanded the storage options available to engines; and Arrow-based interfaces began gaining use alongside established access methods.

Each layer totals 100% of estimated analytical activity. Within a layer, older surviving technologies generally appear to the left of newer ones; pooled categories can include later arrivals. Connections show estimated use between adjacent layers. They do not establish a complete access-to-storage path through an engine.

## Read the site

- [How to read the visualization](https://history.columnar.tech/guide.md): A written version of the tour, with the legend and controls.
- [Timeline, 1976–2026](https://history.columnar.tech/timeline.md): Annual captions and links to each year’s three percentage tables.
- [The stack in 2026](https://history.columnar.tech/years/2026.md): The final historical snapshot, through 8 October 2026.
- [Browse technologies](https://history.columnar.tech/technologies.md): Definitions, historical names, annual shares, and connections.
- [Arrow dataset](https://history.columnar.tech/data.md): Download the data, with a Python example and schema guide.
- [Methodology and changelog](https://history.columnar.tech/methodology.md): Scope, estimation, counting rules, uncertainty, and revisions.
- [Sources](https://history.columnar.tech/sources.md): The bibliography linked from the public methodology.
- [Terms of use](https://history.columnar.tech/terms.md): Purpose, limitations, attribution, and corrections.

Start with the guide for interpretation. For a particular comparison, follow the year or technology links and then open its connections. Each detail page identifies whether a percentage refers to an entire layer or to one engine or parent category.

Figures, definitions, captions, and source links reproduce the public visualization. When citing it, identify the figures as illustrative estimates; do not present exact numbers or inferred comparisons as factual claims or forecasts made by Columnar.

Corrections are welcome at [hello@columnar.tech](mailto:hello@columnar.tech). Please include sources or other information supporting the proposed change.

---

[Markdown overview](https://history.columnar.tech/index.md) · [Interactive visualization](https://history.columnar.tech/) · [Methodology](https://history.columnar.tech/methodology.md) · [Terms of use](https://history.columnar.tech/terms.md)

© 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.