Data and information

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Data

• Definition: Raw facts and figures without context. This can include numbers, text, images, and sounds.
• Characteristics: Data is unprocessed and unorganized. It can be quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (descriptive).
• Example: A list of temperatures recorded over a week (e.g., 70°F, 72°F, 68°F).

Information

• Definition: Data that has been processed, organized, or structured to provide meaning or context.
• Characteristics: Information is data that has been analyzed and interpreted to support decision-making or understanding.
• Example: A weather report summarizing the weekly temperature trends, indicating whether it's unusually warm or cold.

Relationship

• Transformation: Data becomes information when it is processed. For instance, aggregating daily temperatures to calculate the average for the week transforms raw data into useful information.
• Usage: Information is used for decision-making, analysis, and communication, while data serves as the foundational building blocks for generating information.