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Data vs Document - What's the difference?

data | document |

As nouns the difference between data and document

is that data is (time) date while document is an original or official paper relied upon as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support any material substance on which the thoughts of men are represented by any species of conventional mark or symbol.

As a verb document is

to record in documents.

data

English

Alternative forms

* (electronics)

Noun

(wikipedia data) (-) or plural noun
  • English plurals: Pieces of information.
  • (uncountable, collectively) Information, especially in a scientific or computational context.
  • *
  • With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Snakes and ladders , passage=Risk is everywhere.
  • (computing) A representation of facts or ideas in a formalized manner capable of being communicated or manipulated by some process.
  • Usage notes

    * This word is more often used as an uncountable noun with a singular verb than as a plural noun with singular datum. * The definition of data'' in the computing context is from an international standard vocabulary] and is meant to distinguish ''data'' from ''information . However, this distinction is largely ignored by the computing profession.[http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1957/1/Cm1My.pdf

    Derived terms

    * big data * databank * database * datasheet * data acquisition * data analysis * data domain * data element * data entry * data farming * data hiding * data integrity * data maintenance * data management * data mining * data modeling * data path, datapath * data processing * data recovery * data set * data sink * data source * data warehouse * metadata * primary data * raw data

    References

    * (The American Heritage Dictionary's usage note on 'data') * Calpundit: YOU SAY DAY-TA, I SAY DAA-TA * John Quiggin: Data is not the plural of datum * johnaugust.com: ‘Data’ is singular

    document

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia document) (en noun)
  • An original or official paper relied upon as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support. Any material substance on which the thoughts of men are represented by any species of conventional mark or symbol.
  • * Paley
  • Saint Luke judged to be authentic.
  • (obsolete) That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma.
  • * I. Watts
  • Learners should not be too much crowded with a heap or multitude of documents or ideas at one time.
  • (obsolete) An example for instruction or warning.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • They were forthwith stoned to death, as a document to others.

    Derived terms

    * *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To record in documents.
  • He documented each step of the process as he did it, which was good when the investigation occurred.
  • To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts or give information.
  • A ship should be documented according to the directions of law.

    References

    * English heteronyms ----