Difference between data, knowledge and information

What is Data?

Data consist of raw facts and figures; it does not have any meaning until it is processed and turned into something useful.

Data comes in many forms, the main ones beingletters, numbers and symbols.
However, it is essential that DATA is available because it is the first step in creating meaningful INFORMATION.

For example the three data items above could representsome very important information:

Data Information
123424331911 Your winning Lottery ticket number
211192 Your birthday
aabThe grades you want at A level

What is Information?

Information is data that has been processed in such a way as to be meaningful to the person who receives it.INFORMATION = DATA + CONTEXT + MEANING

Example of Information:

Data 21041926 This has no meaning or context

Context It is British date This allows us to register itas 21st April 1926. It still has
no meaning and is therefore not information

Meaning The Birth date This gives us all the elementsrequired for it to be called
Of Queen “information”
Elizabeth II

What is Knowledge?

The next levelup from collecting information is having wisdom; the capability of understanding the relationship between pieces of information and what to actually do with the information.
This ability is calledKnowledge.

Consider this scenario: Person puts a finger into very hot water.

Data gathered: Finger nerves sends pain data to the brain.
Processing: Brian considers the data and comes up with…Information: Painful finger means it is not in a good place.
Action: Brain tells finger to remove itself from hot water.
Knowledge: Sticking finger in hot water is a bad idea.
Knowledge is having...