Data and Information

INFORMATION AND DATA

The words, information and data, are used interchangeably in many contexts. However, they are not synonyms. It is necessary to make distinction between the two terms namely, data and information that are usually used interchangeably.
The interchange of the words data and information is widespread; following explanation should help to develop a clearer understanding of the differences between the two.

Data

Ø Facts, statistics used for reference or analysis.
Ø Numbers, characters, symbols, images etc., which can be processed by a computer.
Ø Data must be interpreted, by a human or machine, to derive meaning
Ø Data is a representation of information

Information

Ø Knowledge derived from study, experience (by the senses), or instruction.
Ø Communication of intelligence.
Ø Information is any kind of knowledge that is exchangeable amongst people, about
things, facts, concepts, etc., in some context."
Ø Information is interpreted data”

Data is the material on which computer programs work upon. It can be numbers, letters of the alphabet, words, special symbols but they themselves have no meaning. For example, the following sequence of digits 240343 is meaningless by itself since it could refer to date of birth, part number for a automobile, number of rupees spent on a project, population of a town, number of people employed in a large organisation etc. Once we know what the sequence refers to, then it becomes meaningful and can be called information. For example, when we write 24-03-43, it may mean date of birth as 24th March 1943.
In general terms, Data is any fact or number. It may have some meaning or not.
But Information is a data, which cannot be predicted with a probability of 1. It is always meaningful.