Information is the meaningful output derived from processing, organizing, interpreting, or analyzing raw data. It transforms data—which are raw facts, figures, or measurements without context—into something comprehensible and useful for understanding, communication, learning, and decision-making. Essentially, information adds context and value to data, allowing it to inform and guide actions or judgments
. In simpler terms, data are unprocessed facts, such as numbers or observations, while information is what you get when those data are structured and interpreted to convey meaning. For example, a list of temperatures recorded over time is data; analyzing that list to understand climate trends produces information
. Information can take many forms, including facts, knowledge, news, intelligence, or messages communicated through various media like text, speech, images, or audio. It is distinguished from data by its meaningfulness and usefulness to the recipient
. In summary:
- Data: Raw, unprocessed facts and figures without context.
- Information: Processed and interpreted data that convey meaning and understanding.
This distinction is fundamental in fields like computing, communication, and knowledge management, where turning data into information enables effective decision-making and learning
