Which is called a data?

Anything that can be recorded, measured, or observed in raw form is called data. Data represents unprocessed details that have not yet been analyzed or given context. For instance, names, dates, prices, temperatures, or even survey responses are all forms of data. 

It serves as the starting point for information generation. In essence, data is the smallest unit of meaning from which larger patterns and knowledge can be derived. For example, if you record the number of students in a class or sales figures of a store, each recorded number is data. 

Data can exist in various formats numeric, textual, graphical, or multimedia. It may be structured, like entries in a database, or unstructured, like social media posts. In computing, data is any input given to a machine for processing. In science, it is the factual evidence gathered through observation or experimentation. What makes something “data” is its potential to be used for analysis, interpretation, and decision-making. Without organization or processing, it remains just raw material, awaiting transformation into meaningful information.