Data and information are often used interchangeably but they aren’t the same. Knowing the difference between data and information can be beneficial in a variety of contexts like at work, in decision-making, and even just for day-to-day life. Learn about how data is collected and processed to become useful information to help inform decisions. What is Data? The term "data" is just "facts and figures." Each data piece is a small reality, which means nothing on its own. For a unique fact or a set of facts, the word data can be used. It comes from the Latin word date, which means "something". Data refers to raw, unprocessed facts, figures, or symbols. It consists of discrete elements or observations that lack context or meaning on their own. Data can take various forms, such as numbers, text, images, audio, or video. For example, a series of numbers representing monthly sales figures or a collection of customer names and addresses are considered data. Its on