Data Or Information?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand building databases correctly; therefore, I am going back over Running Microsoft Access 2000 book.

I’m having some trouble understanding a section in the book on Building a Database, page 86.

“Data or information?

You need to know the difference between data and information before you proceed any further. This bit of knowledge makes it easier to determine what you need to store in your database.

The difference between data and information is that data is the set of static values you store in the tables of the database, while information is data that is retrieved and organized in a way that is meaningful to the person viewing it. You store data and you retrieve information. The distinction is important because of the way that you construct a database application. You first determine the tasks that are necessary (what information you need to be able to retrieve), and then you determine what must be stored in the database to support those tasks (what data you need in order to construct and supply the information).

Whenever you refer to or work with the structure of your database or the items stored in the tables, queries, macros, or code, you’re dealing with data. Likewise, whenever you refer to or work with query records, filters, forms, or reports, you’re dealing with information. The process of designing a database and its application becomes clearer once you understand this distinction....”

To me “data” is synonymous to information, facts, figures, numbers and so on. I guess this is why I am having a hard time understanding the above paragraphs.

Can anyone explain it in a way that a dummy can understand it?

Thanks!