ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) architecture refers to the process of extracting data from various sources, transforming it into a usable format, and loading it into a target database or data warehouse. ETL architecture typically consists of three main stages: extraction, where data is collected from multiple sources; transformation, where data is cleaned, standardized, and formatted to fit the target database schema; and loading, where transformed data is inserted into the destination database or data warehouse. This architecture is crucial in data integration and analytics processes, enabling organizations to consolidate and analyze data from disparate sources efficiently.