Difference Between Information and Data

12/21/2022 Difference between Information and Data
Difference between Information and Data

By David Taylor Updated November 12, 2022
What is Data?
Data is a raw and unorganized fact that
required to be processed to make it
meaningful. Data can be simple at the
same time unorganized unless it is
organized. Generally, data comprises
facts, observations, perceptions numbers,
characters, symbols, image, etc.
Data is always interpreted, by a human or

machine, to derive meaning. So, data is meaningless. Data contains numbers, statements,
and characters in a raw form.
What is Information?
Information is a set of data which is processed in a meaningful way according to the given
requirement. Information is processed, structured, or presented in a given context to
make it meaningful and useful.
It is processed data which includes data that possess context, relevance, and purpose. It
also involves manipulation of raw data.
Information assigns meaning and improves the reliability of the data. It helps to ensure
undesirability and reduces uncertainty. So, when the data is transformed into
information, it never has any useless details.
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KEY DIFFERENCE
Data is a raw and unorganized fact that is required to be processed to make it

meaningful whereas Information is a set of data that is processed in a
meaningful way according to the given requirement.
Data does not have any specific purpose whereas Information carries a meaning
that has been assigned by interpreting data.
Data alone has no significance while Information is significant by itself.
Data never depends on Information while Information is dependent on Data.
Data measured in bits and bytes, on the other hand, Information is measured in
meaningful units like time, quantity, etc.
Data can be structured, tabular data, graph, data tree whereas Information is
language, ideas, and thoughts based on the given data.
Data Vs. Information

Parameters Data Information
Qualitative Or
QuantitativeVariables which It is a group of data which carries news
Description
helps to develop ideas or and meaning.
conclusions.
Data comes from a Latin Information word has old French and
word, datum, which means middle English origins. It has referred
Etymology “To give something.” Over a to the “act of informing.”. It is mostly
time “data” has become the used for education or other known
plural of datum. communication.
Data is in the form of

Format numbers, letters, or a set of Ideas and inferences
characters.
Represented It can be structured, tabular Language, ideas, andthoughts based

in data, graph, data tree, etc. on the given data.
Data does not have any It carries meaning that has been
Meaning
specific purpose. assigned by interpreting data.
Interrelation Information that is collected Information that is processed.
Data is a single unit and is Information is the product and group

Feature raw. It alone doesn’t have of data which jointly carry a logical
any meaning. meaning.
It never depends on
Dependence It depended on Data.
Information
Measuring Measured in meaningful units like time,

Measured in bits and bytes.
unit quantity, etc.
Support for
It can’t be used for decision
Decision It is widely used for decision making.
making
making
Contains Unprocessed raw factors Processed in a meaningful way
Knowledge
It is low-level knowledge. It is the second level of knowledge.
level
Data is the property of an

organization and is not Information is available for sale to the
Characteristic
available for sale to the public.
public.
Data depends upon the

Dependency Information depends upon data.
sources for collecting data.
Sales report by region and venue. It

Ticket sales on a band on
Example gives information which venue is
tour.
profitable for that business.
Data alone has no

Significance Information is significant by itself.
signifiance.
Data is based on records and Information is considered more

observations and, which are reliable than data. It helps the
Meaning
stored in computers or researcher to conduct a proper
remembered by a person. analysis.
The data collected by the Information is useful and valuable as it

Usefulness researcher, may or may not is readily available to the researcher for
be useful. use.
Information is always specific to the

requirements and expectations
Data is never designed to the
Dependency because all the irrelevant facts and
specific need of the user.
figures are removed, during the
transformation process.
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12/21/2022 Difference between Information and Data

Difference between Information and Data

Data is always interpreted, by a human or

Data is a raw and unorganized fact that is required to be processed to make it

Data Vs. Information

Data is in the form of

Represented It can be structured, tabular Language, ideas, andthoughts based

Interrelation Information that is collected Information that is processed.

Data is a single unit and is Information is the product and group

Measuring Measured in meaningful units like time,

Contains Unprocessed raw factors Processed in a meaningful way

Parameters Data Information

Data is the property of an

Data depends upon the

Sales report by region and venue. It

Data alone has no

Data is based on records and Information is considered more

The data collected by the Information is useful and valuable as it

Information is always specific to the

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