Data

Data is the representation of a variable, which can be quantitative or qualitative, which  indicates a value that is assigned to things and is represented by a sequence of symbols, numbers or letters .

It describe empirical facts. To examine them, they must be organized or tabulated, as one piece of it alone cannot show much, but the whole must be evaluated to examine the results.

Data base

It consist of a set of data classified according to criteria and stored in support (digital or not) to be consulted and accessed in a simple and quick way. It can be generated automatically and cumulatively with computer programs  or entered manually.

Computing data

It is the general expression that describes the characteristics of the entity on which it operates .

The function of programs and applications is data processing, since each programming language has a set of it from which it works. All information that enters and leaves a computer does so in the form of data .

Data type

In programming, it is essential to determine the type or category of data you are working with. Each dataset of a specific type is handled differently to get the desired results.

Numeric

• I whole . Formed by a numeric variable that has no decimal part.
• Real. Formed by a numeric variable that can have a decimal part.

Text

• Character. Consisting of a unit or symbol that can be a letter, a number, an uppercase letter, or a punctuation mark.
• Chain. Formed by a set of consecutively arranged characters that are represented between quotation marks.

Logical

• Boolean. That can represent two values: true or false.

Statistic data

Statistics is the branch of mathematics that analyzes data obtained from different representative samples to understand a phenomenon. There are two types of data that are analyzed in statistics, which must be processed and framed in a context to generate information;

• Qualitative . That answer the question which? or what is it? and are represented by letters. For example: name, gender.
• Quantitative. Referring to numbers. For example: price, height, age.

Examples

Examples of qualitative

Name: Jazmín Suarez
Occupation: Teacher
Address: Avenida Conquistadores
Gender: Female

Examples of quantitative

Age: 59
Height: 1.56
Number of children: 4
Years in office: 8

Differences between data, information and knowledge

However, an easy way to understand the difference between data, information and knowledge is through a quote by author Heide Miranda da Silva.

In other words, information is processed data about something or someone, and knowledge is a set of useful information that has been acquired through learning and experience.

Therefore, an example of data and information  that can help to understand their difference is precisely that data alone is not relevant and does not lead to any understanding while information is a series of organized data.

Thus, this structure starts to transmit a meaning, generating understanding in some specific context.

Finally, it should be noted that adding data, information and knowledge generates true know-how , that is, knowledge of a process to accomplish something.