Senior Secondary Course

Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DATA STRUCTURE

DATA:  Thus, the ultimate goal of processing is to

transform data into information.
 Data is a raw and unorganized fact that
required to be processed to make it
meaningful. DATA PROCESSING ACTIVITIES:
 It can be consider as a facts and statistics
collected together for reference or COLLECTION CONVERSION
analysis. Originating Coding

Measuring Classifying
Data are individual units of information.
 In analytical processes, data are Recording Verifying
represented by variables.
Comparing Transforming
 Data is always interpreted by a human or
machine, to derive meaning. So, data is
meaningless.
MANIPULATION STORAGE
 Data contains numbers, statements, and
characters in a raw form. Sorting Storing

Calculating Retrieving

INFORMATION: Summarizing

 Information is structured, organized and Comparing

processed data.
 Information is that the knowledge that is
re-modelled and classified into an COMMUNICATION AND REPRODUCTION
intelligible type.
 It may be obtained from numerous sources DATA PROCESSING CYCLE:
like newspaper, internet, television,
people, books etc. The data processing activities can be grouped
in four functional categories.
DATA PROCESING:
 Data input
 Data processing is the act of handling or
manipulating data  Data processing,
 Data processing is the process through
which facts and figures are collected,  Data output
assigned meaning, communicated to others
and retained for future use.  Storage

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 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

DATA INPUT: display screens and printers make human-

machine communication possible.
 It refers to the activities required to record
data and to make it available for  Calculation and text manipulation
processing. Operations: Computer circuits perform
 The input can also include the steps calculations on numbers. They are also
necessary to check, verify and validate data capable of manipulating numeric and other
contents. symbols used in text with equal efficiency.
PROCESSING:
 Logic/Comparison Operations: A
 It includes techniques such as classifying, computer also possesses the ability to
sorting, calculating, summarizing,
perform logic operations.
comparing, etc.
For Ex: A>B, A==B, A<B etc.
 It converts data into information.
 Storage and Retrieval Operations: Both
data and program instructions are stored
internally for future use.
DATA ORGANIZATION:
 Data Item: A data item is the smallest unit
of information stored in computer file.
It is a single element used to represent a fact
such as an employee’s name, item price, etc.
Ex: The employee number 170 is a data item.
PANKAJ, the name is a data item.

 Field: Data items are physically arranged

as fields in a computer file. Their length
may be fixed or variable.
OUTPUT:
 Record: A record is a collection of
 It is a communication function which related data items or fields. Each record
transmits the information, generated after normally corresponds to a specific unit of
processing of data. information.
STORAGE:
Ex: The first record contains all the data
 It involves the filing of data and concerning the employee PANKAJ.
information for future use.
The second record contains all the data
COMPUTER PROCESSING concerning the employee REKHA.
OPERATIONS:

 Input/ Output operations: A computer

can take input from various input devices
such as keyboard and processed it and
provides the desired output to various

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 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

 File: The collection of records is called a D. Collected from diverse sources

file. A file contains all the related records
for an application. 4. Data processing system:
A. Data -> Processing -> Output
 Database: The collection of related B. Data -> Output -> Processing
files is called as database. A database C. Processing -> Data -> Output
contains all the related files for a D. None of the above
particular application.

FIXED LENGTH RECORDS:

STRETCH YOURSELF
 All the records in the file are of same size.
1. Briefly explain about data processing
 Leads to memory wastage. cycle?

 Access of the records is easier and faster. 2. Differentiate between fixed and variable
length records?
 Exact location of the records can be
determined: location of ith record would 3. Describe data, information and data
be.n*(i-1), where n is the size of every processing by giving suitable example?
record.

VARIABLE LENGTH RECORDS:

 Different records in the file have
different sizes.
ANSWERS
 Memory efficient.
 Access of the records is slow.
Answers to Check Yourself:
1. B
CHECK YOURSELF
2. B
3. A
1. Information is 4. A
A. Data
B. Processed Data
C. Manipulated input
D. Computer output

2. Data by itself is not useful unless

A. It is massive
B. It is processed to obtain information
C. It is collected from diverse sources
D. It is properly stated

3 For taking decisions data must be

A. Very accurate
B. Massive
C. Processed correctly