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Data

  • Writer: Ade McCormack
    Ade McCormack
  • Jul 24
  • 1 min read

What is data?

The arrival of AI has elevated data in respect of its usage in modern business language. But there is some confusion around what data is. It is sometimes conflated with information and even knowledge.


Data is simply a collection of values, eg. name, amount, temperature etc. Graphics and video can be both data and information. The distinguishing characteristic is that information provides context. A stack of receipts is data. The fact that I am spending too much on coffee is information. Thus data yields information.

 

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