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Glossary - Google Data Analytics

This document provides definitions for over 100 terms related to data analytics. It includes terms across various categories such as data types, spreadsheet functions, programming languages, statistical methods, visualization types, SQL functions, and data science processes. The definitions range from short phrases to multiple sentences.

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Amogh Mehrotra
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
665 views23 pages

Glossary - Google Data Analytics

This document provides definitions for over 100 terms related to data analytics. It includes terms across various categories such as data types, spreadsheet functions, programming languages, statistical methods, visualization types, SQL functions, and data science processes. The definitions range from short phrases to multiple sentences.

Uploaded by

Amogh Mehrotra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Glossary

Data Analytics
Terms and Definitions

A
A/B testing: The process of testing two variations of the same web page to determine which page is
more successful at attracting user traffic and generating revenue

Absolute reference: A reference within a function that is locked so that rows and columns won’t change
if the function is copied

Access control: Features such as password protection, user permissions, and encryption that are used to
protect a spreadsheet

Accuracy: The degree to which data conforms to the actual entity being measured or described

Action-oriented question: A question whose answers lead to change

Administrative metadata: Metadata that indicates the technical source of a digital asset

Aesthetic (R): A visual property of an object in a plot

Agenda: A list of scheduled appointments

Aggregation: The process of collecting or gathering many separate pieces into a whole

Algorithm: A process or set of rules followed for a specific task

Aliasing: Temporarily naming a table or column in a query to make it easier to read and write

Alternative text: Text that provides an alternative to non-text content, such as images and videos

Analytical skills: Qualities and characteristics associated with using facts to solve problems

Analytical thinking: The process of identifying and defining a problem, then solving it by using data in an
organized, step-by-step manner

Annotation: Text that briefly explains data or helps focus the audience on a particular aspect of the data
in a visualization
Anscombe’s quartet: Four datasets that have nearly identical summary statistics but contain different
plotted values

Area chart: A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable connected by a
continuous line with a filled in area underneath

Argument (R): Information needed by a function in R in order to run

Arithmetic operator: An operator used to perform basic math operations such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division

Array: A collection of values in spreadsheet cells

Assignment operator: An operator used to assign values to variables and vectors

Attribute: A characteristic or quality of data used to label a column in a table

Audio file: Digitized audio storage usually in an MP3, AAC, or other compressed format

AVERAGE: A spreadsheet function that returns an average of the values from a selected range

AVERAGEIF: A spreadsheet function that returns the average of all cell values from a given range that
meet a specified condition

B
Bad data source: A data source that is not reliable, original, comprehensive, current, and cited (ROCCC)

Balance: The design principle of creating aesthetic appeal and clarity in a data visualization by evenly
distributing visual elements

Bar graph: A data visualization that uses size to contrast and compare two or more values

Bias: A conscious or subconscious preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing

Big data: Large, complex datasets typically involving long periods of time, which enable data analysts to
address far-reaching business problems

Boolean data: A data type with only two possible values, usually true or false

Borders: Lines that can be added around two or more cells on a spreadsheet

Box plot: A data visualization that displays the distribution of values along an x-axis

Bubble chart: A data visualization that displays individual data points as bubbles, comparing numeric
values by their relative size
Bullet graph: A data visualization that displays data as a horizontal bar chart moving toward a desired
value

Business metric: A standard of measurement used to solve a business task

Business task: The question or problem data analysis resolves for a business

C
C# : An object-oriented programming language used to create games and mobile apps in the .NET open
source developer platform

C++: An extension of the C programming language that is used to create console games, such as those
for Xbox

Calculated field: A new field within a pivot table that carries out certain calculations based on the values
of other fields

Calculus: A branch of mathematics that involves the study of rates of change and the changes between
values that are related by a function

CASE: A SQL statement that returns records that meet conditions by including an if/then statement in a
query

Case study: A common way for employers to assess job skills and gain insight into how a candidate
approaches common data-related challenges

CAST: A SQL function that converts data from one datatype to another

Causation: When an action directly leads to an outcome, such as a cause-effect relationship

Cell reference: A cell or a range of cells in a worksheet typically used in formulas and functions

Changelog: A file containing a chronologically ordered list of modifications made to a project

Channel: A visual aspect or variable that represents characteristics of the data in a visualization

Chart: A graphical representation of data from a worksheet

Circle view: A data visualization that shows comparative strength in data

Clean data: Data that is complete, correct, and relevant to the problem being solved

Cloud: A place to keep data online, rather than a computer hard drive

Cluster: A collection of data points on a data visualization with similar values


COALESCE: A SQL function that returns non-null values in a list

Code chunk: A piece of code added in an R Markdown file that is used to process, visualize or analyze
data

Coding: The process of writing instructions to a computer in the syntax of a specific programming
language

Column chart: A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable, represented
as vertical columns

Combo chart: A data visualization that combines more than one visualization type

Compatibility: How well two or more datasets are able to work together

Completeness: The degree to which data contains all desired components or measures

Computer programming: The process of giving instructions to a computer in order to perform an action
or set of actions

CONCAT: A SQL function that adds strings together to create new text strings that can be used as unique
keys

CONCATENATE: A spreadsheet function that joins together two or more text strings

Conditional formatting: A spreadsheet tool that changes how cells appear when values meet specific
conditions

Conditional statement: A declaration that if a certain condition holds, then a certain event must take
place

Confidence interval: A range of values that conveys how likely a statistical estimate reflects the
population

Confidence level: The probability that a sample size accurately reflects the greater population

Confirmation bias: The tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms pre-
existing beliefs

Consent: The aspect of data ethics that presumes an individual’s right to know how and why their
personal data will be used before agreeing to provide it

Consistency: The degree to which data is repeatable from different points of entry or collection

Context: The condition in which something exists or happens

Continuous data: Data that is measured and can have almost any numeric value
CONVERT: A SQL function that changes the unit of measurement of a value in data

Cookie: A small file stored on a computer that contains information about its users

Correlation: The measure of the degree to which two variables change in relationship to each other

COUNT: A spreadsheet function that counts the number of cells within a range the meet a specified
condition

COUNTA: A spreadsheet function that counts the total number of values within a specified range that
meet specified criteria

COUNTIF: A spreadsheet function that returns the number of cells within a range that match a specified
value

COUNT DISTINCT: A SQL function that only returns the distinct values in a specified range

CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network) (R): An online archive with R packages, source code,
manuals, and documentation

CREATE TABLE: A SQL clause that adds a temporary table to a database that can be used by multiple
people

Cross-field validation: A process that ensures certain conditions for multiple data fields are satisfied

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A programming language used for web page design that controls graphic
elements and page presentation

CSV (comma-separated values) file: A delimited text file that uses a comma to separate values

Currency: The aspect of data ethics that presumes individuals should be aware of financial transactions
resulting from the use of their personal data and the scale of those transactions

D
Dashboard: A tool that monitors live, incoming data

Data: A collection of facts

Data aggregation: The process of gathering data from multiple sources and combining it into a single,
summarized collection

Data analysis: The collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions,
make predictions, and drive informed decision-making
Data analysis process: The six phases of ask, prepare, process, analyze, share, and act whose purpose is
to gain insights that drive informed decision-making

Data analyst: Someone who collects, transforms, and organizes data in order to draw conclusions, make
predictions, and drive informed decision-making

Data analytics: The science of data

Data anonymization: The process of protecting people's private or sensitive data by eliminating
identifying information

Data bias: When a preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing systematically
skews data analysis results in a certain direction

Data blending: A Tableau method that combines data from multiple data sources

Data composition: The process of combining the individual parts in a visualization and displaying them
together as a whole

Data constraints: The criteria that determine whether a piece of a data is clean and valid

Data design: How information is organized

Data-driven decision-making: Using facts to guide business strategy

Data ecosystem: The various elements that interact with one another in order to produce, manage,
store, organize, analyze, and share data

Data element: A piece of information in a dataset

Data engineer: A professional who transforms data into a useful format for analysis and gives it a
reliable infrastructure

Data ethics: Well-founded standards of right and wrong that dictate how data is collected, shared, and
used

Data frame: A collection of columns containing data, similar to a spreadsheet or SQL table

Data governance: A process for ensuring the formal management of a company’s data assets

Data-inspired decision-making: Exploring different data sources to find out what they have in common

Data integrity: The accuracy, completeness, consistency, and trustworthiness of data throughout its life
cycle

Data interoperability: The ability to integrate data from multiple sources and a key factor leading to the
successful use of open data among companies and governments
Data life cycle: The sequence of stages that data experiences, which include plan, capture, manage,
analyze, archive, and destroy

Data manipulation: The process of changing data to make it more organized and easier to read

Data mapping: The process of matching fields from one data source to another

Data merging: The process of combining two or more datasets into a single dataset

Data model: A tool for organizing data elements and how they relate to one another

Data privacy: Preserving a data subject’s information any time a data transaction occurs

Data range: Numerical values that fall between predefined maximum and minimum values

Data replication: The process of storing data in multiple locations

Data science: A field of study that uses raw data to create new ways of modeling and understanding the
unknown

Data security: Protecting data from unauthorized access or corruption by adopting safety measures

Data storytelling: Communicating the meaning of a dataset with visuals and a narrative that are
customized for an audience

Data strategy: The management of the people, processes, and tools used in data analysis

Data structure: A format for organizing and storing data

Data transfer: The process of copying data from a storage device to computer memory or from one
computer to another

Data type: An attribute that describes a piece of data based on its values, its programming language, or
the operations it can perform

Data validation: A tool for checking the accuracy and quality of data

Data validation process: The process of checking and rechecking the quality of data so that it is
complete, accurate, secure and consistent

Data visualization: The graphical representation of data

Data warehousing specialist: A professional who develops processes and procedures to effectively store
and organize data

Database: A collection of data stored in a computer system

Dataset: A collection of data that can be manipulated or analyzed as one unit


DATEDIF: A spreadsheet function that calculates the number of days, months, or years between two
dates

Decision tree: A tool that helps analysts make decisions about critical features of a visualization

Delimiter: A character that indicates the beginning or end of a data item

Density map: A data visualization that represents concentrations, with color representing the number or
frequency of data points in a given area on a map

Descriptive metadata: Metadata that describes a piece of data and can be used to identify it at a later
point in time

Design thinking: A process used to solve complex problems in a user-centric way

Digital photo: An electronic or computer-based image usually in BMP or JPG format

Dirty data: Data that is incomplete, incorrect, or irrelevant to the problem to be solved

Discrete data: Data that is counted and has a limited number of values

DISTINCT: A keyword that is added to a SQL SELECT statement to retrieve only non-duplicate entries

Distribution graph: A data visualization that displays the frequency of various outcomes in a sample

Diverging color palette: A color theme that displays two ranges of data values using two different hues,
with color intensity representing the magnitude of the values

Donut chart: A data visualization where segments of a ring represent data values adding up to a whole

dplyr (R): An R package in Tidyverse that offers a consistent set of functions to complete common data-
manipulation tasks

DROP TABLE: A SQL clause that removes a temporary table from a database

Duplicate data: Any record that inadvertently shares data with another record

Dynamic visualizations: Data visualizations that are interactive or change over time

E
Elevator pitch: A short statement describing an idea or concept

Emphasis: The design principle of arranging visual elements to focus the audience’s attention on
important information in a data visualization

Engagement: Capturing and holding someone’s interest and attention during a data presentation
Equation: A calculation that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division (also called a math
expression)

Estimated response rate: The average number of people who typically complete a survey

Ethics: Well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in
terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues

External data: Data that lives, and is generated, outside of an organization

F
Facets (R): A series of functions that splits data into subsets in a matrix of panels

Factor (R): An object that stores categorical data where the data values are limited and usually based on
a finite group, such as country or year

Fairness: A quality of data analysis that does not create or reinforce bias

Field: A single piece of information from a row or column of a spreadsheet; in a data table, typically a
column in the table

Field length: A tool for determining how many characters can be keyed into a spreadsheet field

Fill handle: A box in the lower-right-hand corner of a selected spreadsheet cell that can be dragged
through neighboring cells in order to continue an instruction

Filled map: A data visualization that colors areas in a map based on measurements or dimensions

Filtering: The process of showing only the data that meets a specified criteria while hiding the rest

Find and replace: A tool that finds a specified search term and replaces it with something else

First-party data: Data collected by an individual or group using their own resources

Float: A number that contains a decimal

Foreign key: A field within a database table that is a primary key in another table (Refer to primary key)

Formula: A set of instructions used to perform a calculation using the data in a spreadsheet

Framework: The context a presentation needs to create logical connections that tie back to the business
task and metrics

FROM: The section of a query that indicates from which table(s) to extract the data
Function: A preset command that automatically performs a specific process or task using the data in a
spreadsheet

Function (R): A body of reusable code for performing specific tasks in R

FWF (fixed-width file): A text file with a specific format, which enables the saving of textual data in an
organized fashion

G
GAM (generalized additive model) smoothing (R): A process for smoothing plots with a large number of
points

Gantt chart: A data visualization that displays the duration of events or activities on a timeline

Gap analysis: A method for examining and evaluating the current state of a process in order to identify
opportunities for improvement in the future

Gauge chart: A data visualization that shows a single result within a progressive range of values

General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union (GDPR): Policy-making body in the
European Union created to help protect people and their data

Geolocation: The geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information

Geom (R): The geometric object used to represent data

ggplot2 (R): An R package in Tidyverse that creates a variety of data visualizations by applying different
visual properties to the data variables in R

Good data source: A data source that is reliable, original, comprehensive, current, and cited (ROCCC)

GROUP BY: A SQL clause that groups rows that have the same values from a table into summary rows

H
HAVING: A SQL clause that adds a filter to a query instead of the underlying table that can only be used
with aggregate functions

head() (R): An R function that returns a preview of the column names and the first few rows of a dataset

Header: The first row in a spreadsheet that labels the type of data in each column

Headline: Text at the top of a visualization that communicates the data being presented
Heat map: A data visualization that uses color contrast to compare categories in a dataset

Highlight table: A data visualization that uses conditional formatting and color on a table

Histogram: A data visualization that shows how often data values fall into certain ranges

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The set of markup symbols or codes used to create a webpage

HTML5: A programming language that provides structure for web pages and connects to hosting
platforms

Hypothesis: A theory that one might try to prove or disprove with data

Hypothesis testing: A process to determine if a survey or experiment has meaningful results

I
IDE (Integrated Development Environment): A software application that brings together all the tools a
data analyst may want to use in a single place

Incomplete data: Data that is missing important fields

Inconsistent data: Data that uses different formats to represent the same thing

Incorrect/inaccurate data: Data that is complete but inaccurate

Inline code: Code that can be inserted directly into the text of an R Markdown file

INNER JOIN : A SQL function that returns records with matching values in both tables

Inner query: A SQL subquery that is inside of another SQL statement

Internal data: Data that lives within a company’s own systems

Interpretation bias: The tendency to interpret ambiguous situations in a positive or negative way

J
Java: A programming language widely used to create enterprise web applications that can run on
multiple clients

JOIN: A SQL function that is used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column

Jupyter Notebook: An open-source web application used to create and share documents that contain
live code, equations, visualizations and narrative text
K
L
Label: Text in a visualization that identifies a value or describes a scale

Labels and annotations (R): A group of R functions used for customizing a plot

Leading question: A question that steers people toward a certain response

LEFT: A function that returns a set number of characters from the left side of a text string

LEFT JOIN: A SQL function that will return all the records from the left table and only the matching
records from the right table

Legend: A tool that identifies the meaning of various elements in a data visualization

LEN: A function that returns the length of a text string by counting the number of characters it contains

Length: The number of characters in a text string

Library: A directory containing all of a data analyst’s installed packages

LIMIT: A SQL clause that specifies the maximum number of records returned in a query

Line graph: A data visualization that uses one or more lines to display shifts or changes in data over time

List: A vector whose elements can be of any type

Live data: Data that is automatically updated

Loess smoothing (R): A process used for smoothing plots with fewer than 1,000 points

Log file: A computer-generated file that records events from operating systems and other software
programs

Logical operator: An operator that returns a logical data type

Long data: A dataset in which each row is one time point per subject, so each subject has data in
multiple rows

M
Mandatory: A data value that cannot be left blank or empty

Map: A data visualization that organizes data geographically

Mapping (R): The process of matching up a specific variable in a dataset with a specific aesthetic

Margin of error: The maximum amount that sample results are expected to differ from those of the
actual population

Markdown (R): A syntax for formatting plain text files

Mark: A visual object in a data visualization such as a point, line, or shape

MATCH: A spreadsheet function used to locate the position of a specific lookup value

Math expression: A calculation that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division (also called
an equation)

Math function: A function that is used as part of a mathematical formula

Matrix: A two-dimensional collection of data elements with rows and columns

MAX: A function that returns the largest numeric value from a range of cells

MAXIFS: A spreadsheet function that returns the maximum value from a given range that meets a
specified condition

McCandless Method: A method for presenting data visualizations that moves from general to specific
information

Measurable question: A question whose answers can be quantified and assessed

Mental model: A data analyst’s thought process and approach to a problem

Mentor: Someone who shares knowledge, skills, and experience to help another grow both
professionally and personally

Merger: An agreement that unites two organizations into a single new one

Metadata: Data about data

Metadata repository: A database created to store metadata

Metric: A single, quantifiable type of data that is used for measurement

Metric goal: A measurable goal set by a company and evaluated using metrics

MID: A function that returns a segment from the middle of a text string
MIN: A spreadsheet function that returns the smallest numeric value from a range of cells

MINIFS: A spreadsheet function that returns the minimum value from a given range that meets a
specified condition

Modulo: An operator (%) that returns the remainder when one number is divided by another

Movement: The design principle of arranging visual elements to guide the audience’s eyes from one
part of a data visualization to another

mutate() (R): An R function that makes changes to a dataframe separating and merging columns or
creating new variables

N
Naming conventions: Consistent guidelines that describe the content, creation date, and version of a
file in its name

Narrative: (Refer to Story)

Nested: Code that performs a particular function and is contained within code that performs a broader
function

Nested function: A function that is completely contained within another function

Networking: Building relationships by meeting people both in person and online

Nominal data: A type of qualitative data that is categorized without a set order

Normalized database: A database in which only related data is stored in each table

Notebook: An interactive, editable programming environment for creating data reports and showcasing
data skills

Null: An indication that a value does not exist in a dataset

O
Observation: The attributes that describe a piece of data contained in a row of a table

Observer bias: The tendency for different people to observe things differently (also called experimenter
bias)

Open data: Data that is available to the public


Open-source: Code that is freely available and may be modified and shared by the people who use it

Openness: The aspect of data ethics that promotes the free access, usage, and sharing of data

Operator: A symbol that names the operation or calculation to be performed

ORDER BY: A SQL clause that sorts results returned in a query

Order of operations: Using parentheses to group together spreadsheet values in order to clarify the
order in which operations should be performed

Ordinal data: Qualitative data with a set order or scale

Outdated data: Any data that has been superseded by newer and more accurate information

OUTER JOIN: A SQL function that combines RIGHT and LEFT JOIN to return all matching records in both
tables

Outer query: A SQL statement containing a subquery

Ownership: The aspect of data ethics that presumes individuals own the raw data they provide and have
primary control over its usage, processing, and sharing

P
Package (R): A unit of reproducible R code

Packed bubble chart: A data visualization that displays data in clustered circles

Pattern: The design principle of using similar visual elements to demonstrate trends and relationships in
a data visualization

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor): A programming language for web application development

Pie chart: A data visualization that uses segments of a circle to represent the proportions of each data
category compared to the whole

Pipe (R): A tool in R for expressing a sequence of multiple operations, represented with “%>%”

Pivot chart: A chart created from the fields in a pivot table

Pivot table: A data summarization tool used to sort, reorganize, group, count, total, or average data

Pixel: In digital imaging, a small area of illumination on a display screen that, when combined with other
adjacent areas, forms a digital image

Population: In data analytics, all possible data values in a dataset


Portfolio: A collection of materials that can be shared with potential employers

Pre-attentive attributes: The elements of a data visualization that an audience recognizes automatically
without conscious effort

Primary key: An identifier in a database that references a column in which each value is unique (Refer to
foreign key)

Problem domain: The area of analysis that encompasses every activity affecting or affected by a
problem

Problem types: The various problems that data analysts encounter, including categorizing things,
discovering connections, finding patterns, identifying themes, making predictions, and spotting
something unusual

Profit margin: A percentage that indicates how many cents of profit has been generated for each dollar
of sale

Programming language: A system of words and symbols used to write instructions that computers
follow

Proportion: The design principle of using the relative size and arrangement of visual elements to
demonstrate information in a data visualization

Python: A general-purpose programming language

Q
Qualitative data: A subjective and explanatory measure of a quality or characteristic

Quantitative data: A specific and objective measure, such as a number, quantity, or range

Query: A request for data or information from a database

Query language: A computer programming language used to communicate with a database

R
R: A programming language used for statistical analysis, visualization, and other data analysis

R Markdown: A file format for making dynamic documents with R

R Notebook: A document for running code and displaying the graphs and charts that visualize the code
Random sampling: A way of selecting a sample from a population so that every possible type of the
sample has an equal chance of being chosen

Range: A collection of two or more cells in a spreadsheet

Ranking: A system to position values of a dataset within a scale of achievement or status

readr (R): An R package in Tidyverse used for importing data

Record: A collection of related data in a data table, usually synonymous with row

Redundancy: When the same piece of data is stored in two or more places

Reframing: The process of restating a problem or challenge, then redirecting it toward a potential
resolution

Regular expression (RegEx): A rule that says the values in a table must match a prescribed pattern

Relational database: A database that contains a series of tables that can be connected to form
relationships

Relational operator: An operator used to compare values, also known as a comparator

Relativity: The process of considering observations in relation or proportion to something else

Relevant question: A question that has significance to the problem to be solved

Remove duplicates: A spreadsheet tool that automatically searches for and eliminates duplicate entries
from a spreadsheet

Repetition: The design principle of repeating visual elements to demonstrate meaning in a data
visualization

Report: A static collection of data periodically given to stakeholders

Return on investment (ROI): A formula that uses the metrics of investment and profit to evaluate the
success of an investment

Revenue: The total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services

Rhythm: The design principle of creating movement and flow in a data visualization to engage an
audience

RIGHT: A function that returns a set number of characters from the right side of a text string

RIGHT JOIN: A SQL function that will return all records from the right table and only the matching
records from the left
Root cause: The reason why a problem occurs

Ruby: An object-oriented programming language for web application development

S
Sample: In data analytics, a segment of a population that is representative of the entire population

Sampling bias: Overrepresenting or underrepresenting certain members of a population as a result of


working with a sample that is not representative of the population as a whole

Scatter plot: A data visualization that represents relationships between different variables with
individual data points without a connecting line

Schema: A way of describing how something, such as data, is organized

Scope of work (SOW): An agreed-upon outline of the tasks to be performed during a project

Second-party data: Data collected by a group directly from its audience and then sold

SELECT: The section of a query that indicates from which column(s) to extract the data

SELECT INTO: A SQL clause that copies data from one table into a temporary table without adding the
new table to the database

Shiny (R): An R package used to build interactive web apps with R code

Small data: Small, specific data points typically involving a short period of time, which are useful for
making day-to-day decisions

SMART methodology: A tool for determining a question’s effectiveness based on whether it is specific,
measurable, action-oriented, relevant, and time-bound

Smoothing (R): A process used to make data visualizations in R clearer and more readable

Smoothing line (R): A line on a data visualization that uses smoothing to represent a trend

Social media: Websites and applications through which users create and share content or participate in
social networking

Soft skills: Nontechnical traits and behaviors that relate to how people work

Sort range: A spreadsheet menu function that sorts a specified range and preserves the cells outside the
range

Sort sheet: A spreadsheet menu function that sorts all data by the ranking of a specific sorted column
and keeps data together across rows

Sorting: The process of arranging data into a meaningful order to make it easier to understand, analyze,
and visualize

Specific question: A question that is simple, significant, and focused on a single topic or a few closely
related ideas

SPLIT: A spreadsheet function that divides text around a specified character and puts each fragment into
a new, separate cell

Sponsor: A professional advocate who is committed to moving forward the career of another

Spotlightling: Scanning through data to quickly identify the most important insights

Spreadsheet: A digital worksheet

SQL: (Refer to Structured Query Language)

Stakeholders: People who invest time and resources into a project and are interested in its outcome

Static data: Data that doesn’t change once it has been recorded

Static visualization: A data visualization that does not change over time unless it is edited

Statistical power: The probability that a test of significance will recognize an effect that is present

Statistical significance: The probability that sample results are not due to random chance

Statistics: The study of how to collect, analyze, summarize, and present data

Story: The narrative of a data presentation that makes it meaningful and interesting

String data type: A sequence of characters and punctuation that contains textual information (also
called text data type)

Structural metadata: Metadata that indicates how a piece of data is organized and whether it is part of
one or more than one data collection

Structured data: Data organized in a certain format such as rows and columns

Structured Query Language: A computer programming language used to communicate with a database

Structured thinking: The process of recognizing the current problem or situation, organizing available
information, revealing gaps and opportunities, and identifying options

Subquery: A SQL query that is nested inside a larger query

SUBSTR: A SQL function that extracts a substring from a string variable


Substring: A subset of a text string

Subtitle: Text that supports a headline by adding context and description

SUM: A spreadsheet function that adds the values of a selected range of cells

SUMIF: A spreadsheet function that adds numeric data based on one condition

Summary table: A table used to summarize statistical information about data

SUMPRODUCT: A function that multiplies arrays and returns the sum of those products

Swift: A programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS

Symbol map: A data visualization that displays a mark over a given longitude and latitude

Syntax: The predetermined structure of a language that includes all required words, symbols, and
punctuation, as well as their proper placement

T
Tableau: A business intelligence and analytics platform that helps people visualize, understand, and
make decisions with data

Technical mindset: The ability to break things down into smaller steps or pieces and work with them in
an orderly and logical way

Temporary table: A database table that is created and exists temporarily on a database server

Text data type: A sequence of characters and punctuation that contains textual information (also called
string data type)

Text phrase: The syntax of a query is its structure

Text string: A group of characters within a cell, most often composed of letters

Third-party data: Data provided from outside sources who didn’t collect it directly

Tibble (R): A streamlined variation of data frames

Tidy data (R): A way of standardizing the organization of data within R

tidyr (R): An R package in Tidyverse used for data cleaning to make tidy data

Tidyverse (R): A system of packages in R with a common design philosophy for data manipulation,
exploration, and visualization
Time-bound question: A question that specifies a timeframe to be studied

Transaction transparency: The aspect of data ethics that presumes all data-processing activities and
algorithms should be explainable and understood by the individual who provides the data

Transferable skills: Skills and qualities that can transfer from one job or industry to another

TRIM: A function that removes leading, trailing, and repeated spaces in data

TSV (Tab-separated values file): A text file that stores a data table by separating columns of data with
tabs

Turnover rate: The rate at which employees voluntarily leave a company

Typecasting: Converting data from one type to another

U
Unbiased sampling: When the sample of the population being measured is representative of the
population as a whole

Underscores: Lines used to underline words and connect text characters

Unfair question: A question that makes assumptions or is difficult to answer honestly

Unique: A value that can’t have a duplicate

United States Census Bureau: An agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the
nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy

Unity: The design principle of using visual elements that complement each other to create aesthetic
appeal and clarity in a data visualization

Unstructured data: Data that is not organized in any easily identifiable manner

V
Validity: The degree to which data conforms to constraints when it is input, collected, or created

VALUE: A spreadsheet function that converts a text string that represents a number to a numeric value

Variable (R): A representation of a value in R that can be stored for later use

Variety: The design principle of using different kinds of visual elements in a data visualization to engage
an audience
Vector (R): A group of data elements of the same type stored in a one-dimensional sequence in R

Verification: A process to confirm that a data-cleaning effort was well executed and the resulting data is
accurate and reliable

Video file: A collection of images, audio files, and other data usually encoded in a compressed format
such as MP4, MV4, MOV, AVI, or FLV

Vignette (R): Documentation for an R package that describes the problem the package is designed to
solve, explains how its functions can be used, and lists any dependencies on other packages

Visual form: The appearance of a data visualization that gives it structure and aesthetic appeal

Visualization: (Refer to Data visualization)

VLOOKUP: A spreadsheet function that vertically searches for a certain value in a column to return a
corresponding piece of information

W
WHERE: The section of a query that specifies criteria that the requested data must meet

Wide data: A dataset in which every data subject has a single row with multiple columns to hold the
values of various attributes of the subject

WITH: A SQL clause that creates a temporary table that can be queried multiple times

World Health Organization: An organization whose primary role is to direct and coordinate
international health within the United Nations system

X
X-axis: The horizontal line of a graph usually placed at the bottom, which is often used to represent time
scales and discrete categories

Y
Y-axis: The vertical line of a graph usually placed to the left, which is often used to represent frequencies
and other numerical variables

YAML: A language that translates data to improve readability


Z

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