A collection of raw facts, numbers, words, or pictures. In everyday life, data is individual pieces of information gathered from the world around us, like the temperature outside, a grocery price, or a photo you snap. On its own, a single piece of data is just a standalone fact. However, when a computer, smartphone, or wearable device collects these pieces through its sensors and apps, it connects them together to show you something useful, like a text message, your daily step count, or a weather report.