Beginner's Guide to Coding and Data

Unveiling the Power of Data in Programming

As we embark on this journey into the fascinating world of computer programming, one element stands out as foundational: data. We invite you to explore with us the role of data in programming, especially how it mirrors our own human understanding of the world.

Our exploration will cover various layers of understanding, and we will delve into the following aspects:

• What data is in programming
• How data represents the real world
• Qualitative and quantitative data

First, let's clarify what we mean when we talk about data. Data is essentially the raw information that programs use to operate. It's the lifeblood of software and an integral part of what makes programming a powerful tool.

Data as the Building Blocks

We all make sense of the world through data, collecting it through our senses to construct our perception of reality. In the realm of programming, data serves a similar function—it's used to represent and make sense of the world.

Whether it's a simple text string or a complex numerical algorithm, data is what drives the logic of computer programs. We can consider data in programs as either text or numbers. While the computer hardware deals with zeros and ones, we, as programmers, mostly interact with higher-level representations of data.

Data in Action: Google Search

Let's use Google Search as an example to see data in action. When we type Deeplizard into the search box and hit enter, what we get back is more data—in this case, text that tells us about Deeplizard. Simple, yet incredibly powerful.

Categorizing Data: Qualitative and Quantitative

Data can be categorized into two main types: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data helps us describe things, like our names and email addresses, while quantitative data measures aspects, such as our height or age. Sites like Facebook use this categorization to represent us in their systems.

// Qualitative Data
const firstName = "Deep";
const lastName = "Lizard";

// Quantitative Data
const age = 30;
const height = 165;

Understanding how to work with these two types of data is key to mastering programming. After all, the main skill in programming is knowing how to represent the real world in terms of text and numbers.