Information

Information (shortened as info or info.) is that which informs, i.e. an answer to a question, as well as that from which knowledge and data can be derived (as data represents values attributed to parameters, and knowledge signifies understanding of real things or abstract concepts).

As it regards data, the information's existence is not necessarily coupled to an observer (it exists beyond an event horizon, for example), while in the case of knowledge, information requires a cognitive observer.

At its most fundamental, information is any propagation of cause and effect within a system.

Information is conveyed either as the content of a message or through direct or indirect observation of some thing.

That which is perceived can be construed as a message in its own right, and in that sense, information is always conveyed as the content of a message.

Information can be encoded into various forms for transmission and interpretation (for example, information may be encoded into signs, and transmitted via signals).

Information can also be encrypted for safe storage and communication.

Information resolves uncertainty.

• The uncertainty of an event is measured by its probability of occurrence and is inversely proportional to that.
• The more uncertain an event, the more information is required to resolve uncertainty of that event.
• The bit is a typical unit of information, but other units such as the nat may be used.
  • Example: information in one "fair" coin flip: log2(2/1) = 1 bit, and in two fair coin flips is log2(4/1) = 2 bits.

The concept that information is the message has different meanings in different contexts.

Thus the concept of information becomes closely related to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, education, knowledge, meaning, understanding, mental stimuli, pattern, perception, representation, and entropy.

See also

• Bit
• Data
• Data processing
• Data transmission

External Links

• Information @ Wikipedia