What's the Difference between "Data" and "Information"?

by dbreunig on 10/22/2009, 8:37 PM with 6 comments

I've been asking this question around and have been getting some interesting responses. Thoughts?

"To you, what is the difference between 'data' and 'information'?"

  • by rpbertp13 on 10/22/2009, 8:58 PM

    I have the sense that information is content, and that data is content in a specific form. I think the difference is plain if you think about file formats. I would be inclined to say that .wav and .mp3 versions of the same audio recording consist of very different data, but carry very similar information (not the same because of the quality degradation inherent in compression)

  • by noodle on 10/22/2009, 8:56 PM

    the dictionary definitions are almost identical and they're referred to as synonyms.

    but when i use the words, i tend to refer to data as information that has been processed/arranged/sorted/whatever. data implies structured information. and of course, information can still be used, as a word, to refer to data. thats just how i tend to use it.