Scribd
Upload
2 views

What is Data

Uploaded by

Tesfaye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

What is Data

Uploaded by

Tesfaye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

What is Data?

Data (/ˈdeɪtə/ DAY-tə, US also /ˈdætə/ DAT-ə) are a collection of discrete or continuous values
that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of
meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted formally. A datum is
an individual value in a collection of data. Data are usually organized into structures such as
tables that provide additional context and meaning, and may themselves be used as data in larger
structures. Data may be used as variables in a computational process.[1][2] Data may represent
abstract ideas or concrete measurements.[3] Data are commonly used in scientific research,
economics, and virtually every other form of human organizational activity. Examples of data
sets include price indices (such as the consumer price index), unemployment rates, literacy rates,
and census data. In this context, data represent the raw facts and figures from which useful
information can be extracted.

Data are collected using techniques such as measurement, observation, query, or analysis, and
are typically represented as numbers or characters that may be further processed. Field data are
data that are collected in an uncontrolled, in-situ environment. Experimental data are data that
are generated in the course of a controlled scientific experiment. Data are analyzed using
techniques such as calculation, reasoning, discussion, presentation, visualization, or other forms
of post-analysis. Prior to analysis, raw data (or unprocessed data) is typically cleaned: Outliers
are removed, and obvious instrument or data entry errors are corrected.

Data can be seen as the smallest units of factual information that can be used as a basis for
calculation, reasoning, or discussion. Data can range from abstract ideas to concrete
measurements, including, but not limited to, statistics. Thematically connected data presented in
some relevant context can be viewed as information. Contextually connected pieces of
information can then be described as data insights or intelligence. The stock of insights and
intelligence that accumulate over time resulting from the synthesis of data into information, can
then be described as knowledge. Data has been described as "the new oil of the digital economy".
[4][5]
Data, as a general concept, refers to the fact that some existing information or knowledge is
represented or coded in some form suitable for better usage or processing.

Advances in computing technologies have led to the advent of big data, which usually refers to
very large quantities of data, usually at the petabyte scale. Using traditional data analysis
methods and computing, working with such large (and growing) datasets is difficult, even
impossible. (Theoretically speaking, infinite data would yield infinite information, which would
render extracting insights or intelligence impossible.) In response, the relatively new field of data
science uses machine learning (and other artificial intelligence) methods that allow for efficient
applications of analytic methods to big data.

You might also like