Data+Vs+Information

Information vs. Data
Many people use the words **data** and **information** to mean the same thing, but they are not.
 * Data** is raw, unprocessed facts and figures which are collected, stored and processed by computers. Data is **encoded information**.

For example, the digits **251201** are data. Depending on what they represent, they could mean the following items of information:
 * Information** is what we get when data is processed. Information is the **meaning** that humans give to data.


 * a date: 25 December 2001
 * a sum of money: £251,201 or £2,512.01
 * a student ID number: 251201
 * a bank’s sort code: 25-12-01
 * a map reference