Data

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Data are values of qualitative or quantitative variables, belonging to a set of items.[1]

## Introduction

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One way to think about data is to consider how some of the organs of our bodies detect changes to their environment. These are called "Sensory organs", and through our Sensory organs, we are aware of all aspects of our environment. The senses include sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. We make decisions based on images, sounds, odors, tastes and touches that are received by our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. All images, sounds, odors, tastes and touches from our environment may be thought of as "Data".

## Data

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In science all images, sounds, odors, tastes and touches of our environment convert to "Alphabet", "Numbers "and "Symbols", therefore all facts and events may be represented by (A...Z),(0...9) and (@,[,\,<, >, ?, *, %, ...) or some combination thereof.

For example:

* John is 12 years old (combination of "Alphabet" and "Numbers)
* 2+3=5 (combination of "Numbers "and "Symbols")
* My email address is myname@somedomain.com (combination of "Alphabet" and "Symbols")
* Etc.

In computer science, "Alphabet", "Numbers " and "Symbols" convert to a unique numeric code that is assigned to each letter, number, or symbol. For example:

* Alphabet (A,...Z):
* unique code for " A " is → 01000001 in binary or 65 in decimal
* .....
* unique code for " Z " is → 01011010 in binary or 90 in decimal

Numbers (0,…9)

* unique code for 0 is → 00110000 in binary or 48 in decimal
* .....
* unique code for 9 is → 00111001 in binary or 57 in decimal

Symbols (@,[,\,<,>,?,*,%,…):

* unique code for " @ " is → 01000000 in binary or 64 in decimal
* unique code for " [ " is → 01011011 in binary or 91 in decimal
* .....

The definition of facts and events by "Alphabet","Numbers "and "Symbols" in computer science are set of unique values known as "Data".

Datum is the singular form of data.

Data typically consists of measurements often recorded as a collection of numbers or characters, but may also include images, sounds, odors, tastes and touches In science, data is obtained systematically in order to test theories and hypotheses.

## Information

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Data itself is not associated with any context, and therefore it has no inherent meaning. For example, the number 12 is an element of datum, on its own it has no meaning. However when placed into the context of "John is 12 years old" we understand the meaning.

12 → "John is 12 years old" → 12 years old.In the example:

* 12 is a datum
* "John is 12 years old" is a context
* 12 years old is meaning

12 → "there are 12 months in a year" → 12 months

* 12 is a datum
* "there are 12 months in a year" is a context
* 12 months is meaning

Therefore: datum → context → aware  In science there are a lot of datum (data) and with a context then it give meaning to the results.

Therefore: 'data → context → result  In computer science, data converted with a mathematical or logical operator is referred to as a process and generates information.

Therefore:  data → process → information

Data converted by a process is called "Information".

For example: 2+3=5 or {2,3} → + → 5 or 00000010,00000011 → + → 00000101 (unique binary values)

Note: Information from one process may become data for the next process.

Data1 → process1 → information1 ... (information1) data2 → process2 → information2 ... (information2) data3 → process3 → information3 ...

Distinction between "Data" and "Information"

## See also

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| Search for Data on Wikipedia.

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* Wikipedia: ASCII
* Data analysis
* Data screening
* Missing data

## References

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1. ↑ Wikipedia: Data