Albi Baehaqi / Magister  Student, Class IIID, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
In today's fast-paced digital era, we live amidst an overwhelming flood of information coming from various directions. Social media, news portals, instant messaging applications, and information systems in offices or campuses all present us with different forms of data on a daily basis. However, not everything we receive can be directly regarded as useful information. Often, we are misled by numbers or statements that appear convincing but, in reality, lack clear meaning. This is why it is crucial to understand the differences between facts, data, and information, as well as how the quality of information can influence decision-making in everyday life and in professional contexts.
1. Facts: Realities That Cannot Be Denied
Facts are the most fundamental foundation of the entire process of information processing. Facts are objective realities that truly occur, regardless of human opinions, interpretations, or perspectives. For instance, the number of students attending a class is 30. This statement is a fact because it can be verified and is not influenced by anyone's viewpoint. Facts exist as they are, often presented in quantitative form (numbers, amounts, measurements) or qualitative form (events, phenomena, occurrences). It is important to stress that facts exist prior to being recorded or processed by humans. These facts then become the basis for the creation of data. Without clear facts, data lose their foundation and can potentially be misleading.
2. Data: Records of Facts in Symbolic Form
Once facts are recorded or represented, they are transformed into what we call data. Data can take the form of numbers, text, images, symbols, or sounds. For example, the number "30" is data representing the fact of student attendance, while "28C" is data resulting from a temperature measurement. Data, in essence, are still "raw materials" that cannot be directly used in decision-making. Nevertheless, data possess essential characteristics: they can be easily stored, transferred, and processed. With the help of technology, data can be collected in large volumes and transformed into meaningful information. However, when standing alone, data have limited value. Much like grains of sand, data become meaningful only when gathered, organized, and processed into a more coherent form.
3. Information: Data That Provides Meaning and Added Value
Information represents the next stage, emerging after data have been processed. Information is produced when data are organized, interpreted, or analyzed to yield useful meaning. For instance, from the data showing that 30 students attended class, we can derive the information that "90% of students were present, indicating a relatively high level of discipline." This information is clearly more useful than simply knowing the number "30," as it can serve as a basis for evaluation or decision-making. Good information is capable of reducing uncertainty, supporting planning, and facilitating control in various contexts---whether in education, business, or governance. Without information, decision-making feels like walking in darkness, lacking a clear foundation for assessing a situation.
4. Information Quality: Determining Its True Value
