diff --git a/docs/api_reference/python-api-reference.md b/docs/api_reference/python-api-reference.md
index 56b4dd6395..8e059a35d4 100644
--- a/docs/api_reference/python-api-reference.md
+++ b/docs/api_reference/python-api-reference.md
@@ -31,30 +31,23 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
 .. autofunction:: power_grid_model.validation.errors_to_string
 ```
 
-## data types
+### errors
 
 ```{eval-rst}
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SparseBatchArray
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchArray
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SingleDataset
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchDataset
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.Dataset
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchList
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.NominalValue
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.RealValue
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.AsymValue
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.AttributeValue
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.Component
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.ComponentList
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SinglePythonDataset
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchPythonDataset
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.PythonDataset
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.validation.errors.ValidationError
 ```
 
-### errors
+## data types
 
 ```{eval-rst}
-.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.validation.errors.ValidationError
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.Dataset
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SingleDataset
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchDataset
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.DataArray
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SingleArray
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.BatchArray
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.DenseBatchArray
+.. autoclass:: power_grid_model.data_types.SparseBatchArray
 ```
 
 ## utils
diff --git a/docs/user_manual/dataset-terminology.md b/docs/user_manual/dataset-terminology.md
index 3df005dbcf..4649aaf657 100644
--- a/docs/user_manual/dataset-terminology.md
+++ b/docs/user_manual/dataset-terminology.md
@@ -12,9 +12,12 @@ Some terms regarding the data structures are explained here, including the defin
 
 - **Dataset:** Either a single or a batch dataset.
     - **SingleDataset:** A data type storing input data (i.e. all elements of all components) for a single scenario.
-    - **BatchDataset:** A data type storing update and or output data for one or more scenarios. A batch dataset can be either a sparse or a dense one.
-        - **SparseBatchDataset:**  Dictionaries with a one-dimensional numpy int32 array and a one-dimensional structured numpy arrays. 
-        - **DenseBatchDataset:** A dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are two-dimensional structured numpy arrays.
+    - **BatchDataset:** A data type storing update and or output data for one or more scenarios. A batch dataset can contain sparse or dense data, depending on the component.
+- **DataArray** A data array can be a single or a batch array. It is a numpy structured array.     
+    - **SingleArray** A dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are one-dimensional structured numpy arrays.
+    - **BatchArray:** An array of dictionaries where the keys are the component types and the values are two-dimensional structured numpy arrays.
+        - **DenseBatchArray:** A two-dimensional structured numpy array containing a list of components of the same type for each scenario.
+        - **SparseBatchArray:** A dictionary with a one-dimensional numpy int64 array and a one-dimensional structured numpy arrays. 
 
 ### Type of Dataset 
 
diff --git a/src/power_grid_model/data_types.py b/src/power_grid_model/data_types.py
index 1236e074fe..875cfb0e3f 100644
--- a/src/power_grid_model/data_types.py
+++ b/src/power_grid_model/data_types.py
@@ -13,52 +13,76 @@
 
 # When we're dropping python 3.8, we should introduce proper NumPy type hinting
 
-SparseBatchArray = Dict[str, np.ndarray]
+SingleArray = Union[np.ndarray]
 """
-A sparse batch array is a dictionary containing the keys `indptr` and `data`.
+A single array is a one-dimensional structured containing a list of components of the same type.
+
+- Examples:
 
-- indptr: a one-dimensional numpy int64 array
-- data: a one-dimensional structured numpy array. The exact dtype depends on the type of component.
-- Example: {"indptr": <1d-array>, "data": <1d-array>}
+    - structure: <1d-array>
+    - concrete: array([(0, 10500.0), (0, 10500.0)], dtype=power_grid_meta_data["input"]["node"].dtype)
 """
 
-BatchArray = Union[np.ndarray, SparseBatchArray]
+DenseBatchArray = Union[np.ndarray]
+"""
+A dense batch array is a two-dimensional structured numpy array containing a list of components of 
+the same type for each scenario.
 """
-A batch is a either a dense or a sparse batch array.
+
+SparseBatchArray = Dict[str, Union[np.ndarray, SingleArray]]
+"""
+A sparse batch array is a dictionary containing the keys `indptr` and `data`.
+
+- data: a :class:`SingleArray`. The exact dtype depends on the type of component.
+- indptr: a one-dimensional numpy int64 array containing n+1 elements where n is the amount of scenarios.
+
+    - The elements are the indices in the data that point to the first element of that scenario.
+    - The last element is one after the data index of the last element of the last scenario.
+    - Usually, the last element will therefore be the size of the data.
 
 - Examples:
 
-dense: <2d-array>
+    - structure: {"indptr": <1d-array>, "data": :class:`SingleArray`}
+    - concrete example: {"indptr": [0, 2, 2, 3], "data": [(0, 1, 1), (1, 1, 1), (0, 0, 0)]}
+
+        - the scenario 0 sets the statuses of components ids 0 and 1 to 1 (and keeps defaults for other components)
+        - scenario 1 keeps the default values for all components
+        - scenario 2 sets the statuses of component with id 0 to 0 (and keeps defaults for other components)
+"""
+
+BatchArray = Union[DenseBatchArray, SparseBatchArray]
+"""
+A batch array is a either a :class:`DenseBatchArray` or a :class:`SparseBatchArray`.
+"""
 
-sparse: {"indptr": <1d-array>, "data": <1d-array>}
+DataArray = Union[SingleArray, BatchArray]
+"""
+A data array can be a :class:`SingleArray` or a :class:`BatchArray`.
 """
 
-SingleDataset = Dict[str, np.ndarray]
+SingleDataset = Dict[str, SingleArray]
 """
-A single dataset is a dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are one-dimensional
-structured numpy arrays.
+A single dataset is a dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are
+:class:`SingleArray`
 
-- Example: {"node": <1d-array>, "line": <1d-array>}
+- Example: {"node": :class:`SingleArray`, "line": :class:`SingleArray`}
 """
 
 BatchDataset = Dict[str, BatchArray]
 """
-A batch dataset is a dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are either two-dimensional
-structured numpy arrays (dense batch array) or dictionaries with an indptr and a one-dimensional structured numpy
-array (sparse batch array).
+A batch dataset is a dictionary where the keys are the component types and the values are :class:`BatchArray`
 
-- Example: {"node": <2d-array>, "line": {"indptr": <1d-array>, "data": <1d-array>}}
+- Example: {"node": :class:`DenseBatchArray`, "line": :class:`SparseBatchArray`}
 """
 
 Dataset = Union[SingleDataset, BatchDataset]
 """
-A general data set can be a single or a batch dataset.
+A general data set can be a :class:`SingleDataset` or a :class:`BatchDataset`.
 
 - Examples:
 
-single: {"node": <1d-array>, "line": <1d-array>}
-
-batch: {"node": <2d-array>, "line": {"indptr": <1d-array>, "data": <1d-array>}}
+    - single: {"node": :class:`SingleArray`, "line": :class:`SingleArray`}
+    - batch: {"node": :class:`DenseBatchArray`, "line": :class:`SparseBatchArray`}
 """
 
 BatchList = List[SingleDataset]
@@ -66,7 +90,7 @@
 A batch list is an alternative representation of a batch. It is a list of single datasets, where each single dataset
 is actually a batch. The batch list is intended as an intermediate data type, during conversions.
 
-- Example: [{"node": <1d-array>, "line": <1d-array>}, {"node": <1d-array>, "line": <1d-array>}]
+- Example: [:class:`SingleDataset`, {"node": :class:`SingleDataset`}]
 """
 
 NominalValue = int
@@ -97,11 +121,9 @@
 
 - Examples:
 
-real: 10500.0    
-
-nominal: 123
-
-asym: (10400.0, 10500.0, 10600.0)
+    - real: 10500.0
+    - nominal: 123
+    - asym: (10400.0, 10500.0, 10600.0)
 """
 
 Component = Dict[str, Union[AttributeValue, str]]
@@ -128,9 +150,10 @@
 
 - Example: 
 
- {"node": [{"id": 1, "u_rated": 10500.0}, {"id": 2, "u_rated": 10500.0}], 
-
- "line": [{"id": 3, "from_node": 1, "to_node": 2, ...}],}
+  {
+    "node": [{"id": 1, "u_rated": 10500.0}, {"id": 2, "u_rated": 10500.0}], 
+    "line": [{"id": 3, "from_node": 1, "to_node": 2, ...}],
+  }
 """
 
 BatchPythonDataset = List[SinglePythonDataset]
@@ -141,9 +164,8 @@
 
 - Example: 
 
- [{"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 0, "to_status": 0, ...}],},
-
- {"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 1, "to_status": 1, ...}],}]
+  [{"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 0, "to_status": 0, ...}],},
+   {"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 1, "to_status": 1, ...}],}]
 """
 
 PythonDataset = Union[SinglePythonDataset, BatchPythonDataset]
@@ -152,15 +174,15 @@
 
 - Examples:
 
- single:
-
- {"node": [{"id": 1, "u_rated": 10500.0}, {"id": 2, "u_rated": 10500.0}],
-
- "line": [{"id": 3, "from_node": 1, "to_node": 2, ...}],}
+  - single:
 
- batch:
+    {
+      "node": [{"id": 1, "u_rated": 10500.0}, {"id": 2, "u_rated": 10500.0}],
+      "line": [{"id": 3, "from_node": 1, "to_node": 2, ...}],
+    }
 
- [{"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 0, "to_status": 0, ...}],},
+  - batch:
 
- {"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 1, "to_status": 1, ...}],}]
+    [{"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 0, "to_status": 0, ...}],},
+     {"line": [{"id": 3, "from_status": 1, "to_status": 1, ...}],}]
 """