Data processing or information processing is the gathering and manipulation of data, and then summarizing it into something meaningful. It may also refer to the overall general operations carried out by a computer.

Various steps of data processing

  • Validation - ensuring that supplied data is without error, accurate, and useful.
  • Sorting - arranging items in different sets and sequences.
  • Summarization - distilling detailed data to its main points.
  • Aggregation - combining all of the different pieces of data.
  • Analysis - the actual process of collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting the data.
  • Reporting - a summary of the processed information.
  • Classification - separates data into various categories.

Artificial intelligence terms, Business terms, Data, Data acquisition, EDP, Information, IPOS, Processing, Software terms

With early computers, the term data processing describe the process of feeding a punched card into a tabulating machine.

  • What is the difference between data and information?
  • How does a computer process data into information?