(DAT). A kind of magnetic tape originally designed for audio format, now also used in computers to back up data. DAT cassettes are about the size of audio cassettes, and can store up to 12GB.

Digital Audio Tape. A kind of magnetic tape originally designed for audio format, now also used in computers to back up data. DAT cassettes are about the size of audio cassettes, and can store up to 12GB.

Information; raw facts. Data can be input into a computer and processed in various ways. For a computer to process data, it must be translated into a form the computer can handle. The smallest discrete element of data that a computer can understand is a bit, or "binary digit". The human brain also processes data fed to it by the sensory organs.

A fact or proposition used to draw a conclusion or make a calculation (singular of data).

bits that contain information, as opposed to bits used for starting, stopping, or error checking.

Database; an organized collection of data.

The encoding of data so it takes up less storage space. PKZIP for PC and Stuffit for Macintosh are data compression programs.

Any process of entering data into a computer. Usually as a job description, data entry means typing information into a database program.

Digital to Analog conversion. The translation of digital information (1s and 0s) into analog information, such as sound waves.

The translation of digital information (1s and 0s) into analog information, such as sound waves.