Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Data processing programs are software applications that are designed to manipulate, organize, and analyze data. They allow users to perform various operations on data, such as sorting, filtering, and transforming data.
Algorithms are step-by-step instructions or procedures for solving problems or performing tasks. In the context of data processing programs, algorithms determine how the program processes and manipulates the data.
Data transformation refers to the process of converting or changing the format or structure of data. It can involve tasks like reformatting dates, converting units of measurement, or aggregating multiple datasets into one.
Data Analysis: Data analysis involves inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information that can inform decision-making. Data processing programs often include built-in tools for performing various types of analysis on datasets.