What is Data and Information?

Here we learn about What is Data and Information? in the database.

What is Data?

Data is commonly defined as raw facts or observation, typically about physical phenomena or business transactions.

For an example of data would be the marks obtained by students in different subjects.

Data can be in any form-numerical, textual, graphical, image, sound, video, etc. The following figure shows the hierarchy of data storage.

What is Information?

Information is defined as refined or processed data that has been transformed into meaningful and useful forms for specific users.

For example, after processing the marks obtained by students is transformed into information, which is meaningful and from which we can decide which student stood first, second, and so forth.

Information comes from data and takes the form of a table, graphs, diagrams, etc.