Virtually everyone is guilty of using Data and Information interchangeably but they have different meanings. Data entails facts or details from which information is derived. Individual pieces of data are rarely useful alone. For data to become information, data needs to be put into context.
Information is what is conveyed or represented by a particular arrangement or sequence of data.
Difference between DATA and INFORMATION
1. Data is raw, unorganised facts that need to be processed. Data can be something simple and seemingly random and useless until it is organised. e.g Each student’s test score is one piece of data. When data is processed, organised, structured or presented in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called information. e.g The average score of a class or of the entire school is information that can be derived from the given data.
2. Data is unprocessed facts figures. Information is processed data.
3. Data is not specific. Information is specific.
4. Data doesn’t carry a meaning. Information must carry a logical meaning.
5. Data is a single unit. A group of data which carries news and meaning is called Information.
