Data vs. Information: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Data are raw, unprocessed facts, while information is data processed to be meaningful.
Key Differences
Data consists of raw facts and figures that, on their own, do not convey any specific meaning. These could be numbers, words, measurements, or observations collected through various methods. Data is typically unorganized and unprocessed until it is analyzed. In contrast, information is what one obtains after processing data; it’s data that has been organized or formatted in such a way that it is useful and meaningful to the person who receives it.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
When discussing data, we refer to the uninterpreted raw inputs that need to be processed. Data can be qualitative or quantitative, but it lacks significance without context. For instance, a list of numbers is just data. Information, on the other hand, is the output after interpretation, providing context and making sense of that list of numbers, such as converting them into a report on climate trends.
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Nov 08, 2023
Data is often seen as the first step in the knowledge hierarchy; it's the foundation upon which information is built. Without data, there can be no information. To transition from data to information, some form of analysis is required, whether it’s simple organization or complex calculation. While data can exist in various forms, information is typically the result of processed data presented in a way that influences the receiver's decision-making process.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
The characteristics of data include being objective, raw, and perhaps unorganized. It does not carry meaning beyond its existence and can be numeric, textual, or multimedia. In the realm of information, the characteristics shift to being meaningful, contextually rich, and often presented within a narrative that offers insight or guidance. Information relies on data, but data does not inherently contain information.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
Data on its own may not be useful until it has been converted into information. This is a critical distinction in the digital age, where data is produced in vast quantities but is only valuable once it has been processed into information. Information, as the end product, holds power to inform decisions, create understanding, and potentially impart knowledge, while raw data is simply the ingredient required to create that end product.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usefulness
Not directly useful without context.
Useful as it provides context and relevance.
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Example
A series of numbers or measurements.
A statistical report derived from data.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Data and Information Definitions
Data
Values derived from scientific experiments.
The data from the laboratory experiments were inconclusive.
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Nov 08, 2023
Information
Knowledge communicated about a particular fact or circumstance.
The pamphlet provided information on how to evacuate during a hurricane.
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Data
Raw facts and statistics collected for reference or analysis.
The survey results provided a vast amount of data for the study.
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Nov 08, 2023
Information
Organized data that allows for decision making.
The report provided the necessary information to proceed with the project.
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Data
Digital information for storage and manipulation.
The hard drive failure resulted in the loss of critical data.
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Information
Meaningful data that is contextual and relevant.
The doctor used the patient's medical history information to make a diagnosis.
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Nov 08, 2023
Data
Quantitative or qualitative attributes of a variable or set of variables.
The researcher collected data on various socioeconomic factors.
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Nov 08, 2023
Information
Knowledge or facts learned, especially about a certain subject or event.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
Unprocessed information, especially computer input.
She entered the data into the database for future use.
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Nov 08, 2023
Information
The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge
Safety instructions are provided for the information of our passengers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
Information, especially in a scientific or computational context, or with the implication that it is organized.
The raw information was processed and placed into a database so the data could be accessed more quickly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A numerical measure of the uncertainty of an experimental outcome.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
(collectively) Recorded observations that are usually presented in a structured format.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
(Law) A formal accusation of a crime made by a public officer rather than by grand jury indictment in instances in which the offense, if a federal crime, is not a felony or in which the offense, if a state crime, is allowed prosecution in that manner rather than by indictment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
(computing) A representation of facts or ideas in a formalized manner capable of being communicated or manipulated by some process.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
That which resolves uncertainty; anything that answers the question of "what a given entity is".
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
Senseid|en|telephony}}(mobile telephony) {{ellipsis of mobile data: digital information transmitted using the cellular telephone network rather than Wi-Fi.
Run out of data
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
Things that are or can be known about a given topic; communicable knowledge of something.
I need some more information about this issue.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
The act of informing or imparting knowledge; notification.
For your information, I did this because I wanted to.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
A collection of facts, observations, or other information related to a particular question or problem; as, the historical data show that the budget deficit is only a small factor in determining interest rates.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A statement of criminal activity brought before a judge or magistrate; in the UK, used to inform a magistrate of an offence and request a warrant; in the US, an accusation brought before a judge without a grand jury indictment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
Information, most commonly in the form of a series of binary digits, stored on a physical storage medium for manipulation by a computer program. It is contrasted with the program which is a series of instructions used by the central processing unit of a computer to manipulate the data. In some conputers data and execuatble programs are stored in separate locations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
(obsolete) The act of informing against someone, passing on incriminating knowledge; accusation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Data
A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn;
Statistical data
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
The creation of form; the imparting of a given quality or characteristic; forming, animation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
[…] the meaning that a human assigns to data by means of the known conventions used in its representation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A service provided by telephone which provides listed telephone numbers of a subscriber.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
(information theory) Any unambiguous abstract data, the smallest possible unit being the bit.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
As contrasted with data, information is processed to extract relevant data.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
(information technology) Any ordered sequence of symbols (or signals) (that could contain a message).
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
The act of informing, or communicating knowledge or intelligence.
The active informations of the intellect.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
Any fact or set of facts, knowledge, news, or advice, whether communicated by others or obtained by personal study and investigation; any datum that reduces uncertainty about the state of any part of the world; intelligence; knowledge derived from reading, observation, or instruction.
Larger opportunities of information.
He should get some information in the subject he intends to handle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A proceeding in the nature of a prosecution for some offense against the government, instituted and prosecuted, really or nominally, by some authorized public officer on behalf of the government. It differs from an indictment in criminal cases chiefly in not being based on the finding of a grand jury. See Indictment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A measure of the number of possible choices of messages contained in a symbol, signal, transmitted message, or other information-bearing object; it is usually quantified as the negative logarithm of the number of allowed symbols that could be contained in the message; for logarithms to the base 2, the measure corresponds to the unit of information, the hartley, which is log210, or 3.323 bits; called also information content. The smallest unit of information that can be contained or transmitted is the bit, corresponding to a yes-or-no decision.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
Useful facts, as contrasted with raw data; as, among all this data, there must be some interesting information.
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn;
Statistical data
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
(communication theory) a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome;
The signal contained thousands of bits of information
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Oct 19, 2023
Information
Data that is processed to be useful; provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and "when" questions.
The detective gathered enough information to solve the case.
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Nov 08, 2023
Information
News or knowledge received through various means.
She received information about her job application through an email.
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Nov 08, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is information always accurate?
Not necessarily; it depends on the data quality and processing accuracy.
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Nov 08, 2023
How is data turned into information?
Through organization, analysis, and interpretation.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can data exist without information?
Yes, data can exist without being processed into information.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is information?
Information is processed data presented in a meaningful way.
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Nov 08, 2023
Why is data important?
It's the fundamental building block for creating information.
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Nov 08, 2023
What forms can data take?
Numbers, text, images, or recordings, among others.
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What role does information play in research?
It represents the synthesized findings that contribute to knowledge.
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Nov 08, 2023
How do we use information?
To make decisions, understand contexts, and derive knowledge.
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Nov 08, 2023
What role does data play in research?
It provides the raw material for analysis and conclusions.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can the same data lead to different information?
Yes, depending on how it's interpreted.
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Nov 08, 2023
What are examples of information in a business context?
Market trends, sales reports, and business forecasts.
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How is data collected?
Through measurements, surveys, transactions, and observations.
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Nov 08, 2023
How does technology affect data and information?
It facilitates the collection of data and the creation and sharing of information.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are data and information interchangeable?
No, they refer to different stages of knowledge processing.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is an information system?
A system that processes and organizes data to produce information.
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Nov 08, 2023
What are examples of data in a business context?
Sales figures, customer demographics, and transaction times.
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Nov 08, 2023
How is information disseminated?
Via reports, presentations, articles, or online platforms.
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Nov 08, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
