Data

Data refers to raw facts, figures, values, or symbols that, on their own, may not convey specific meaning. In the context of computer systems and information technology, data is the input and output of software programs and hardware processing.

Data can exist in various forms, such as numbers, text, measurements, observations, or signals. When data is processed, organized, structured, or interpreted, it becomes information, which is meaningful and useful.

Overview

Data is fundamental to computing and modern communication. It is the basic unit of storage and transmission within digital systems. Data is often represented in binary form (using 0s and 1s) within computers.

Examples of data include:

• A sequence of numbers (e.g., `12345`, `3.14`).
• A string of characters (e.g., `Hello`, `Username`).
• An image file (a collection of data representing pixels).
• A sound file (a collection of data representing audio waves).

Data requires processing and context to become meaningful information. For instance, the number `90210` is just data, but when processed and understood as a postal code, it becomes information about a geographical location.

Data vs. Information

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction between data and information:

Data

Raw, unorganized facts, figures, or symbols. Data is the input to processing.

Information

Data that has been processed, organized, structured, or interpreted to provide meaning and context. Information is the output of processing data.

Example: A list of dates and sales figures is data. A report analyzing these figures to show sales trends over time is information.

Types of Data

Data can be categorized in many ways. In computing, common types relate to how data is represented or stored:

• Numerical Data: Integers, floating-point numbers.
• Textual Data: Characters, strings, words.
• Binary Data: Data in raw binary form, often representing executable code, images, audio, etc.
• Boolean Data: True or False values.
• Structured Data: Data organized in a fixed format, like in a Database table (rows and columns).
• Unstructured Data: Data without a predefined format, like text documents, emails, social media posts.
• Semi-structured Data: Data with some organizational properties but not strictly relational, like XML or JSON files.

Data Storage and Processing

Data is stored on computer storage devices (like HDDs, SSDs, RAM) in files or databases. Software programs and hardware (especially the CPU) are used to process, analyze, and manipulate data to generate information or perform tasks.

Data Privacy and User Responsibility in Hosting Services

When using internet hosting services such as seedboxes, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), or Dedicated Servers, users are typically provided with server resources on which they store and process their own Data.

In regions like the European Union, internet privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), place strict requirements on how organizations handle Personal data. These regulations mandate principles like transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, and security when processing the personal data of EU residents.

As a provider of primarily unmanaged or self-managed hosting infrastructure, Pulsed Media's role is to provide the allocated resources (CPU, RAM, storage space, Bandwidth). In the context of privacy laws like GDPR:

• Pulsed Media provides the infrastructure layer. The user operates as the primary controller and processor of the Data placed on the server or Seedbox.
• Due to the nature of these services being private resources allocated to the user, Pulsed Media generally **does not access, monitor, use, or know the specific contents** of the Data users store or what activities they perform within their allocated space. Access by Pulsed Media staff is typically limited to necessary infrastructure maintenance, troubleshooting (often requiring user permission or specific legal process), and is not for the purpose of inspecting user data content.
• Under applicable laws and the terms of service, the **user is solely responsible** for:

   * The legality of the Data they store and process on their Seedbox or server.
   * Ensuring they have the necessary rights and permissions related to that Data.
   * Implementing appropriate security measures within their server environment to protect their Data.
   * Adhering to any relevant data privacy laws (like GDPR) regarding any Personal data they themselves store or process on the service.

Pulsed Media, as an infrastructure provider, is **not responsible** for the content of the Data that users choose to hold on their servers or seedboxes, nor for any legal or security ramifications arising from that data, except where explicitly mandated by law (e.g., cooperating with lawful requests from law enforcement authorities requiring access to infrastructure logs or data when legally compelled).

See also

• Information
• Database
• Computer storage
• GDPR
• Data privacy
• Personal data
• Pulsed Media

External links

• ISO/IEC 2382:2015 - Information technology — Vocabulary — Part 1: Fundamental terms (Includes definitions of Data and Information)
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Full Text
• Pulsed Media Official Website