Data (computer science): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer}}In computer science, '''data''' (treated as singular, plural, or as a mass noun) is any sequence of one or more symbols; '''datum''' is a single symbol of data. Data requires interpretation to become information. ''Digital data'' is data that is represented using the binary number system of ones 1and instead of analog representation. In modern computer systems, all data is digital.

{{other uses|Data (disambiguation)|Datum (disambiguation)}}

{{broader|Data}}

[[File:Data types - en.svg|thumb|Various types of data which can be visualized through a computer device.]]

In [[computer science]], '''data''' (treated as singular, plural, or as a [[mass noun]]) is any sequence of one or more [[symbol]]s; '''datum''' is a single symbol of data. Data requires [[Interpretation (logic)|interpretation]] to become [[information]]. ''[[Digital data]]'' is data that is represented using the [[binary number]] system of ones (1) and zeros (0), instead of [[analog signal|analog]] representation. In modern (post-1960) computer systems, all data is digital.

Data exists in three states: data at rest, data in transit and data in use. Data within a computer, in most cases, moves as parallel data. Data moving to or from a computer, in most cases, moves as serial data. Data sourced from an analog device, such as a temperature sensor, may be converted to digital using an analog-to-digital converter. Data representing quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer are stored and recorded on magnetic, optical, electronic, or mechanical recording media, and transmitted in the form of digital electrical or optical signals. Data pass in and out of computers via .

Data exists in three states: [[data at rest]], [[data in transit]] and [[data in use]]. Data within a computer, in most cases, [[Parallel communication|moves as parallel data]]. Data moving to or from a computer, in most cases, [[Serial communication|moves as serial data]]. Data sourced from an analog device, such as a temperature sensor, may be converted to digital using an [[analog-to-digital converter]]. Data representing [[Quantity|quantities]], characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a [[computer]] are [[Data storage|stored]] and [[Record (computer science)|recorded]] on [[magnetic tape data storage|magnetic]], [[optical storage|optical]], electronic, or mechanical recording media, and [[Data communication|transmitted]] in the form of digital electrical or optical signals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/data|title=Data|work=Lexico|access-date=14 January 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623094330/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/data |archive-date=2019-06-23 }}</ref> Data pass in and out of computers via [[peripheral|peripheral devices]].

Physical elements consist of an address and a byte/word of data storage. Digital data are often stored in , like or SQL databases, and can generally be represented as abstract key/value pairs. Data can be organized in many different types of , including arrays, , and. Data structures can store data of many different , including , and even other .

Physical [[computer memory]] elements consist of an address and a byte/word of data storage. Digital data are often stored in [[Relational database#RDBMS|relational databases]], like [[table (database)|tables]] or SQL databases, and can generally be represented as abstract key/value pairs. Data can be organized in many different types of [[data structure]]s, including arrays, [[Graph (abstract data type)|graphs]], and [[Object (computer science)|objects]]. Data structures can store data of many different [[data type|types]], including [[Floating-point arithmetic|numbers]], [[string (computer science)|strings]] and even other [[Recursive data type|data structures]].

==Characteristics==