Types of data and ways of processing them

Look around you: everything that surrounds us is physical bodies or fields. We already know that the former are in constant change, movement. All these processes generate energy, which all the time passes from one form to another. As a result, the energy produces a signal. Proceeding from all that has been said, we can confidently say that any signals are basically material in nature.

If this signal interacts with a physical body and is registered by it, then this process can be interpreted differently as follows: different types of data are registered by a physical body. What do we have in the end? Definition of the concept of data. Regardless of what kind of data they are, they are all registered signals.

Data Operations

We have already mentioned the fact that data can be transformed into various forms, this process is called information, and it occurs through various methods. But before formulating the main types of data processing, you need to know that they include a lot of operations, such as:

• Collection.
• Formatting.
• Filtration.
• Sorting.
• Archiving.
• Conversion.
• Protection.
• Transportation.

Now a couple of lines about each operation. All kinds of data are initially collected, which allows you to accumulate the necessary information for decision making. Speaking about formatting, it means converting several types of incoming data to a single view, this process makes it more accessible. As it is easy to guess, the filtering function provides the screening of insignificant information. Sorting means ordering for convenience. Archiving allows you to save a large amount of data, while not bearing significant economic costs. All information has an accessible form. Conversion is the process of converting information of one kind into another. Protection helps to prevent loss, and represents a whole range of measures. Transportation allows you to transfer the necessary information between remote locations.

Classification of information by types and types

Absolutely all the main types of data are divided into two fairly large groups:

• Variables.
• Constant.

From the mathematics course we know the significance of such data types. The first includes any information that tends to change. Constants are data that do not change, they are constant.

Also information is divided into these types:

• The numbers.
• Text.
• Multimedia.

The latter include data presented in the form of sound, graphic and other signals. Based on the type of information to which it refers, it is also divided into types:

• Byte.
• Numerical.
• Date and time.
• Logical information.
• An object.

Coding. Binary code

So, we examined the basic types of simple data, enumerated types, identified the basic operations that can be used. Now we will get acquainted with one of the ways of coding. Let's see how some kinds of data can be converted to binary code. First let's see what the binary code is. Go!

As you might guess, this method helps to transform information, that is, to present it in the form of code. Why is it called binary? The fact is that such a code can contain only two digits - 0 and 1, which are in different combinations.

We have already mentioned that the information can be of different types, and to automate the work with the incoming data, they need to be transformed into a single form. The binary coding technique is used in computer technology. In this case, each binary digit (0 or 1) represents one bit.

Our calculations will be simple: with the help of 2 bits, we can write down four concepts at the same time, with eight numbers and so on. There is a special formula that allows you not to list possible options in your head, as this is a very time consuming task, and sometimes even impossible. It looks like this: N = 2 ^ m. In this formula there are two variables: N is the number of possible combinations, and m is the number of bits, that is, how many binary digits we use.

Data structure

As we know from personal experience, it is easier to work with any data if they are systematized. It is possible to single out only a few variants of information systematization, that is, types of structures:

• Linear.
• Tabular.
• Hierarchical.

When we try to systematize data, we face two main problems: how to correctly share information and how then to find what we need.

Now a couple of lines about each type of structure. The first in our list is linear and occupies this place for a reason. It is the most common list, known to all of us, where each record has its own specific number.

Next comes the tabular form. How can you find the right information here? Each cell has its own address, consisting of two elements (letters, numbers or a combination thereof). Note that tables can be either two-dimensional or multidimensional. Both the first and the second type of structures are easy to use: all you need is to know the code of the necessary information. However, here there are difficulties in changing. If you add an item to the list or table, you will need to change the codes of all the cells.

A hierarchical structure is used when the first two types can not be used. But it is easier to work with such a structure, it can be easily corrected or supplemented.

Units of storage

The following values are used for data storage: bits, bytes (ie 8 bits), kilobytes (1024 bytes), megabytes (1024 KB), gigabytes (1024 MB) and terabytes (1024 GB). This can be stopped, since there is no need for more.