Data processing

Data processing is, broadly, "the collection and manipulation of items of data to produce meaningful information." In this sense it can be considered a subset of information processing, "the change (processing) of information in any manner detectable by an observer."

The term is often used more specifically in the context of a business or other organization to refer to the class of commercial data processing applications.

Data processing functions

Data processing may involve various processes, including:

History

The United States Census Bureau illustrates the evolution of data processing from manual through electronic procedures.

Data processing (disambiguation)

Data processing most often refers to Electronic data processing, computer processes that convert data into information or knowledge.

Data processing may also refer to: