Data
Data is a set of values of qualitative or quantitative variables.
Contents
Description
Pieces of data are individual pieces of information.
Data is particularly important in computing. See Data (computing).
Data is measured, collected and reported, and analyzed, whereupon it can be visualized using graphs or images.
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.
Raw data
Raw data, i.e., unprocessed data, refers to a collection of numbers, characters and is a relative term; data processing commonly occurs by stages, and the "processed data" from one stage may be considered the "raw data" of the next.
Field data
Field data refers to raw data that is collected in an uncontrolled in situ environment.
Experimental data
Experimental data refers to data that is generated within the context of a scientific investigation by observation and recording.
Singular and plural usage
The word "data" used to be considered the plural of "datum", and still is by some English speakers. Nowadays, though, "data" is most commonly used in the singular, as a mass noun (like "sand" or "rain").
See also
- Computer science
- Data (computing)
- Data analysis
- Data storage device
- Data stream
- Database
- Data transmission
- Digital signal
- Information
- Level of measurement
- Qualitative property
- Table (information)
- [[Value (computer science)
- Variable and attribute (research)
Biological data Data acquisition Data analysis Data cable Data domain Data element Data farming Data governance Data integrity Data maintenance Data management Data mining Data modeling Data visualization Computer data processing Data publication Data remanence Data set Data warehouse Database Datasheet Environmental data rescue Fieldwork Metadata Open data Scientific data archiving Statistics Computer memory Data structure Raw Data Secondary Data
