In metadata, the term data element is an atomic unit of data that has precise meaning or precise semantics. Data elements usage can be discovered by inspection of software applications or application data files through a process of manual or automated Application Discovery and Understanding. Once data elements are discovered they can be registered in a metadata registry.In the areas of databases and data systems more generally a data element is a concept forming part of a data model. As an element of data representation, a collection of data elements forms a data structure.
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Data element in the context of Whitespace character
A whitespace character is a character data element that represents white space when text isrendered for display by a computer.
For example, a space character (U+0020 SPACE, ASCII 32) represents blank space such as a word divider in a Western script.
View the full Wikipedia page for Whitespace characterData element in the context of Semantic spectrum
The semantic spectrum, sometimes referred to as the ontology spectrum, the smart data continuum, or semantic precision, is in linguistics, a series of increasingly precise or rather semantically expressive definitions for data elements in knowledge representations, especially for machine use.
At the low end of the spectrum is a simple binding of a single word or phrase and its definition. At the high end is a full ontology that specifies relationships between data elements using precise URIs for relationships and properties.
View the full Wikipedia page for Semantic spectrumData element in the context of Stream (computing)
In computer science, a stream is a sequence of potentially unlimited data elements made available over time. A stream can be thought of as items on a conveyor belt being processed one at a time rather than in large batches. Streams are processed differently from batch data.
Normal functions cannot operate on streams as a whole because they have potentially unlimited data. Formally, streams are codata (potentially unlimited), not data (which is finite).
View the full Wikipedia page for Stream (computing)Data element in the context of Data mapping
In computing and data management, data mapping is the process of creating data element mappings between two distinct data models. Data mapping is used as a first step for a wide variety of data integration tasks, including:
- Data transformation or data mediation between a data source and a destination
- Identification of data relationships as part of data lineage analysis
- Discovery of hidden sensitive data such as the last four digits of a social security number hidden in another user id as part of a data masking or de-identification project
- Consolidation of multiple databases into a single database and identifying redundant columns of data for consolidation or elimination
For example, a company that would like to transmit and receive purchases and invoices with other companies might use data mapping to create data maps from a company's data to standardized ANSI ASC X12 messages for items such as purchase orders and invoices.
View the full Wikipedia page for Data mapping