The fundamental data structure in a data processing system. Any unit of data defined for processing is a data element; for example, ACCOUNT NUMBER, NAME, ADDRESS and CITY. A data element is ...

These data are often unique to time and place and by definition cannot be reproduced. Data collected as the outputs of field or laboratory experiments and complex analytical processes, e.g. clinical ...

Database programs let users create and edit single files interactively at the keyboard. However, as soon as they want data in one file to automatically update another, programming has to be done.