Today we will take care of defining in depth all the concepts that data can adopt. As with many terms, they get different meanings, due to various factors. From the location, the language or even the same time. Data is a term that covers different areas, such as scientific subjects, studies and computing. It also acquires a descriptive use when seeking to request the personal or superficial data of a person or thing. The best thing will be to start in order, and separate each of its concepts to define them in greater detail and understand each of their meanings. Let’s start with a more general concept of data.
We can start from the basis that a piece of data is a document, background, news or information that will allow us to get to know something specific, that is. Data is a series of descriptions that together form a complete result. However, it does not stop there, testimonials can also be considered data. The reason for this is because a testimony can help us deduce the consequences of a fact. Example: “It was possible to find the murderer thanks to the testimonies of the people at the crime scene.” As we can see in this example, the testimony becomes an important piece of information that together allows us to obtain a more complete result or information.
Data in the Humanities Field.
If we focus on the field of humanities, the concept of data does not vary much from the general concept that we have previously structured. Since a piece of data only represents a tiny expression of content that is associated with a specific topic. This means that the unification or collection of all the data will constitute much more complete information.
This concept forces us to comment on the meaning or function of a data bank, which thanks to its name does not allow us to give us a clear idea or at least deduce what its function is. A database can be understood as the grouping of information collected on a specific matter. Information which is accessible for its subsequent use or manipulationby any individual in case they need it. In short, a data bank is a data container accessible for use, as needed by a person.
We do not know if up to this point they have already realized something important, and that is that with all the above we can say that a piece of information does not make sense by itself. They are an element or better call it “a piece”, which together with other data form solid information. Its purpose is to help us make a decision or calculate a calculation from the correct processing of the “pieces” keeping the context in mind. It is valid to perceive the data as an attribute belonging to an entity, which in some occasions can only be a symbol, a number or a description.
Data Protection.
This is an important point that we should all know, especially because of the influence it has in current times. We must know that data protection consists of a legal system that protects our information provided to different public or private entities. Basically, the disclosure or exposure of our information to the public is avoided, thus maintaining respect for our privacy and maintaining a confidentiality agreement with the organizations to which we have entrusted our information.
Believe it or not, your personal data is very important for companies, the suspicion and privatization of it must be paramount. It is possible that you have heard or at least seen some of the controversial cases of Facebook (to give an example) with the protection of the information of its users. The reason why these cases generated so much noise was precisely because of the low security of the information registered by the users of the platform.
Normally in each country there is a public agent in charge of ensuring at all times the laws related to the matter and of course ensuring compliance with them. They also have the task of dealing with any type of claim by citizens, in the event that they are affected by the breach of these laws by an organization. These data protection agencies must exercise sanctioning power whenever a citizen claims it and of course, is correct.
These agencies, in addition to fulfilling the previously mentioned tasks, have the role of promoting a series of recommendations or directly establishing guidelines regarding the security of your information.
Data in the field of Information Technology.
We turn to the concept of data in the field of computing, an area in which this term is used on multiple occasions. In computing, data is nothing more than a small numerical expression that is part of the attributes of an entity. Either it is an information or variable necessary for the calculation of a function. The data is very important since without it the optimal development of the algorithms present in the program is not achieved. Thus dragging the malfunction of it.
In itself, a computer program is just a system that processes input, in fact. The elementary structure of a software is to follow the scheme “Input, process and output”. Understood as input to the data required by the software to be able to compile and optimally perform the task for which it was created. These data after a series of processes, which of course vary depending on the purpose of the computer program, become useful information for the system. This means that once again, the data by itself does not mean something, but after proper processing it becomes meaningful.
What are databases?
Earlier in this article, we were commenting on the definition of a database, although the subject was not delved into, the database comes to have a very similar meaning to databases, in fact… They are practically the same. Their main difference is the area where they are implemented, databases being a fundamental element in computing and software development in general.
In the same way we will share the concept of database, despite sharing a lot of similarities with a database. A database can be seen as a store of information prepared and accessible to be processed whenever a program requires it or consults it. A database despite expressing in its own name that it stores data. It does not have to be exclusively like this, since the information resulting from a process can also be stored in a database.
The way in which information is stored within a database is through a registration form, a practical example of this is when you register an account on any social network. The information stored in the database can be consulted, modified, deleted and even, if necessary, moved to another database. In itself, they are fully manageable.