What Is Big Data? Why Is It Important? (en)
In today's digital era, information or data has become a crucial asset in decision-making processes. To gather the necessary information, we can search through existing data collections. Such a collection is referred to as big data. But what exactly is big data? Is it merely a collection of data? Let's explore the answer in this article.
What is Data?
Before delving into the main discussion, it's essential to understand what data is. Data is a collection of information consisting of various facts that can be in the form of numbers, words, or specific symbols. It can be gathered through search processes or observations using appropriate approaches based on certain sources.
What is Big Data?
Big data refers to a collection of data with a very large volume, comprising structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data that can evolve over time.
Big data is characterized by three aspects, commonly known as the Three Vs:
- Volume: The term "big data" implies a large size of data. The volume of data is a critical aspect to consider when handling big data.
- Velocity: This refers to the speed at which data is generated and processed to meet specific needs. If big data operates at an adequate speed, the data can be received or utilized in real-time.
- Variety: Big data encompasses various types of data, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured forms such as text, audio, and video. These data types may require additional processing to extract meaningful information.
In addition to these three characteristics, big data also has two supplementary aspects:
- Value: A data set is considered valuable if its processing results can aid in better decision-making, especially in business contexts.
- Veracity: This pertains to the accuracy level in data collection and the reliability of the data. High accuracy ensures more effective decision-making.
Functions of Big Data
Understanding the functions of big data is crucial:
- Predictive Analysis: Big data can be utilized to predict or analyze the causes of issues within a system, helping to minimize failures.
- Product Development: Information derived from big data analysis can serve as a reference for developing products and making informed business decisions.
- Cost and Time Efficiency: Employing big data can reduce storage costs and expedite data transmission and reception processes.
Examples of Big Data Applications
Big data is closely intertwined with our daily lives. In the digital age, it plays a vital role in storing vast amounts of data necessary for various human activities. It represents an advanced development of previous databases, offering diverse functions applicable in business, education, and more.
Conclusion
Big data is a collection of data with a very large volume, encompassing structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data that continues to grow over time. Without big data in today's advanced era, making informed choices would be challenging, potentially leading to significant impacts in various fields.
References
- [What is Big Data? Why is it Important?](https://www.dicoding.com/blog/apa-itu-big-data/)