Re: Basic data definitions

From: Anith Sen (anith_at_bizdatasolutions.com)
Date: 09/22/04 

Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 10:54:14 -0500

>> I need some basic database definitions. Can anyone help me? Please, I do
>> not want any ridicule.

A good source for such definitions is the ISO standard vocabulary for
Information Systems. Do a google search & you can get a draft in pdf
version.

There is nothing to be ridiculed here since very few specialize in data
fundamentals. Most will even get embarrassed to ask something "so basic"
while they are eager to talk about new "paradigms" & "x-generation"
databases.

>> What is data?

Data simply means informational content; more specifically informational
content represented in a formalized manner suitable for interpretation,
communication or processing.

>> What is information? How is it different from data?

Information can be defined as, knowledge that, within a certain context, has
a specific meaning to humans. The difference between data & information in
simple terms is :
       Information can only be interpreted by humans.
       Data can be interpreted by either humans or machines.

>> What is schema?

In the context of databases, schema stands for the entire or some subset of
a database structure.

>> What is structured data?

Actually, there is no need for such a term since it is terminologia
redundante. In a nutshell, since data implies meaning or informational
content, due to its organization, data is structured by definition.

>> What is unstructured data?

It is an oxymoron/contradiction but way hyped in the database industry.
Since all data is structured, anything unstructured is disorganized,
meaningless noise & outright useless. Quite simply there is no such thing as
unstructured data.

On a related note, in general, some people talk about binary data (images,
sound etc.) as unstructured, but as you can see such data are already
structured in some format which allows interpretation, communication or
processing.

>> What is schematic data?

I do not know what it means. Where did you find this term & on which
context?

>> What is semi-structured data?

Again, another term mostly meaningless but well-hyped. As you can see it
only adds to the confusion since data is structured.

However in general people talk about unstructured & semi structured data in
different perspectives. Such discourse regarding data is based on whether
its structure within a certain context is exposed to the user or not. For
instance if no meaningful structure of the data is exposed to the user in a
certain context, they call them unstructured & if only some part of its
meaningful structure is exposed to the user in certain context they call it
semi-structured. 

-- 
Anith

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What is the difference between ATTACH and COPY
    ... What is the difference between ATTACH and COPY in SQL Server 2005? ... meaning in SQL Server. ... Maybe you could give the context where you ... But one clear distinction is that if you copy a database to another place, you have two copies of the database, which is not the case if you detach/attach. ...
    (microsoft.public.sqlserver.tools)
  • Re: Definition of shape
    ... As such it no specific meaning in oracle world. ... Even in a database world there can be a context. ...
    (comp.databases.oracle.misc)
  • Re: cdt glossary 0.1.1 (repost)
    ... and /or basic database research. ... A reference is a value used to refer ... ... "Known facts that can be recorded and have implicit meaning." ... variables of a pointer type - these variables ...
    (comp.databases.theory)
  • cdt glossary 0.1.3
    ... basic database research and mathematics. ... A reference is a value used to refer ... ... Somehow the "data has no meaning" idea has caught on. ... variables of a pointer type - these variables ...
    (comp.databases.theory)
  • (repost) cdt glossary 0.1.1
    ... and /or basic database research. ... What the glossay is not: ... "Known facts that can be recorded and have implicit meaning." ... variables of a pointer type - these variables ...
    (comp.databases.theory)
Loading