Data is any collection of numbers, characters or other symbols that has been coded into a format that can be input into a computer and processed.

Data on its own has no meaning, or context.

It is only after processing by a computer that data takes on a context and becomes information.

There are many types of data

All data ends up being stored as a series of numbers inside the computer.

Data can be input to the computer by the user in many different ways.

The main types of data that can be input into a computer and processed are numeric, text, dates, graphics and sound.