Data, Information and Big Data - Notes
& Q&A
📘 Notes: Data, Information & Big Data
1. What is Data?
Definition: Data is a collection of raw facts, figures, or symbols.
Example: Names, numbers, temperatures, words like “blue”, “21”, “apple”.
✴️Characteristics of Data:
Raw and unorganized
Has no meaning by itself
Can be qualitative (text) or quantitative (numbers)
2. What is Information?
Definition: Information is processed or organized data that is meaningful and useful.
Example: "Liana scored 90% in Maths" is information derived from raw test score data.
✴️Characteristics of Information:
Processed and organized
Has context and meaning
Helps in decision making
3. Difference Between Data and Information
Data Information
Raw and unorganized Processed and meaningful
No context or relevance Relevant and useful
Input for processing Output after processing
4. What is Big Data?
Definition: Big Data refers to extremely large datasets that cannot be easily stored,
processed, or analyzed using traditional methods.
✴️Features of Big Data (5 Vs):
Volume – Large amounts of data
Velocity – Speed of data generation
Variety – Different types of data (text, video, audio)
Veracity – Quality and accuracy of data
Value – Useful insights drawn from data
Examples: Facebook posts, YouTube videos, Amazon purchase data, Google searches.
5. Sources of Big Data
Social media, IoT devices, Online transactions, Sensors, Mobile apps
6. Uses of Big Data
Healthcare, E-commerce, Weather forecasting, Smart cities, Fraud detection in banking
7. Challenges in Big Data
Data security, Storage and processing, Data cleaning, Real-time analysis
✅ Questions and Answers: Data, Information & Big Data
📌 Basic Level
1. Q1. What is data?
A: Data is a raw fact or figure that has no meaning on its own.
2. Q2. Give two examples of data.
A: “Red”, “2025”, “56”, “Dog”.
3. Q3. Define information.
A: Information is data that has been processed to have meaning.
4. Q4. Write two examples of information.
A: “The sky is blue”, “Ravi is 12 years old”.
5. Q5. How is data different from information?
A: Data is raw and unorganized, while information is processed and meaningful.
📌 Intermediate Level
6. Q6. Define Big Data.
A: Big Data is a term for data sets that are so large or complex that traditional data-
processing software cannot deal with them.
7. Q7. List the 5 Vs of Big Data.
A: Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, and Value.
8. Q8. Mention any two applications of Big Data.
A: Healthcare monitoring, Online shopping recommendations.
9. Q9. What are the main sources of Big Data?
A: Social media, IoT devices, financial transactions.
📌 Advanced Level
10. Q10. Explain how Big Data is useful in smart cities.
A: Big Data helps smart cities by monitoring traffic, managing waste, tracking utilities, and
improving public services based on real-time data.
11. Q11. Why is Veracity important in Big Data?
A: Veracity ensures that the data is accurate and trustworthy for correct decision-making.
12. Q12. Explain the challenge of data security in Big Data.
A: Due to large-scale data collection, protecting user privacy and preventing cyberattacks
becomes challenging.
