Data
From the reference collection — units of information
| Data | |
|---|---|
| Type | Information |
| Smallest unit | Bit |
| Common grouping | Byte (8 bits) |
| Fields | Computing, statistics |
Data are a collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing quantity, quality, fact, statistics, or other basic units of meaning. A datum is an individual value in a collection of data.
In computing, data is information converted into a form efficient for movement or processing. Data is measured in units built from the bit, the smallest unit, representing a single binary value of 0 or 1.
Units
- Bit — a single binary digit.
- Nibble — four bits.
- Byte — eight bits; the common addressable unit.
- Word — a processor's natural data width (16, 32, or 64 bits).
Representation
Data may be stored, transmitted, and processed. Structured data follows a defined model; unstructured data does not. The distinction between data and information is contextual: information is data placed in context to carry meaning.
See also
Information · Byte · Binary number · Database