HS Informatics Exam 1 Practice 2026 – All-in-One Study Resource to Ensure Exam Success!

The term that refers to unprocessed data is "data." In the context of information systems and informatics, data represents raw facts and figures that have not yet been analyzed or organized. This unprocessed state means that data is often not directly useful until it is processed or transformed into a more meaningful format, which then turns it into information.

The other concepts mentioned – information, knowledge, and records – denote stages or forms that result from processing data. Information is what you get when data is organized and presented in a way that conveys meaning. Knowledge builds upon information and involves understanding and principles that can be applied. Records typically refer to organized collections of related data that are maintained for reference or record-keeping purposes. Thus, data stands distinctly as the fundamental building block of information.