How can you track data changes over time without using Change Data Capture (CDC)?
How can you track data changes over time without using Change Data Capture (CDC)?
Ask by Ashutosh Patel
Updated 04 May 2025
Tracking data changes over time without using Change Data Capture (CDC) by trying out different methods, depending on what you need and your system setup. One way is to use database triggers with audit tables. Here, triggers on actions like INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE will log changes into separate tables, letting you keep an eye on what’s been modified. Another easy approach is adding timestamp columns like created_at and updated_at, which show when records were made or updated, but it won’t show deleted items or past values.
For more detailed tracking, Slowly Changing Dimension Type 2 (SCD2) is a popular choice. It keeps older versions of records by adding new rows for updated info while marking them with version numbers or effective dates. You could also manually log changes in your app by writing updates to a designated log table. This gives you some flexibility but requires consistent use.
Another option is snapshot tables, where you periodically copy the entire dataset, making it easy to compare past versions. This can take up a lot of storage, though. Lastly, you can look at database transaction logs, like MySQL binlogs or PostgreSQL WAL files. This way is thorough but needs a more complex setup and access to those raw logs. Each method has its own pros and cons when it comes to how easy or efficient it is.