What is Information? (Data vs Information)

To understand information, you must first understand Data.

• Data: Data is raw, unorganized, and meaningless facts, numbers, or letters. By itself, it has no context. (For example, the number '98' is just raw data. You don't know if it's a temperature, a price, or a test score).
• Information: When raw data is processed, organized, and given context so that it makes logical sense to a human being, it becomes Information.

Let's look at how a computer turns Data into Information:

• Raw Data: 12, Rahul, A+, 15, Ravi, B. (This is just a messy list of names and grades. It is useless).

• Processing: You put this data into a computer spreadsheet (like MS Excel) and organize it into a neat table.

• Information:

  • Student: Rahul | Age: 12 | Grade: A+
  • Student: Ravi | Age: 15 | Grade: B (Now, the data has meaning. The school principal can look at this and make a decision. This is Information!)

This process is the exact reason why a computer was invented. The primary job of a computer is the Data Processing Cycle: It takes in raw Data (Input), processes it using its CPU, and outputs meaningful Information for the user to read.