Glossary
What’s the difference between a data ecosystem and data infrastructure? What do we really mean when we talk about data ethics? The data world – and the language we use to describe it – is constantly evolving.
This (in-progress) glossary aims to clarify some of the concepts and terms that are frequently used in the data world. We aim to update it regularly and please do get in contact if you have any comments or questions about our definitions.
Data assurance
The process, or set of processes, that increase confidence that data will meet a specific need, and that organisations collecting, using and sharing data are doing so in trustworthy ways
Data ecosystem
A data ecosystem is the people, communities, and organisations that are stewarding data, creating things from it, deciding what to do based on it, influencing any of those activities, or are affected by any of those activities.
Data ethics
Data ethics is a branch of ethics that considers the impact of data practices on people, society and the environment.
- The purpose of data ethics is to guide the values and conduct of data practitioners in data collection, sharing and use.
- For a more detailed definition, see The Alan Turing Institute
Data infrastructure
Data infrastructure is made up of data assets, standards, technologies, policies and the organisations that steward and contribute to them.
- See our video explainer: What is data infrastructure
Data literacy
Data literacy is the ability to think critically about data in different contexts and examine the impact of different approaches when collecting, using and sharing data and information.
Open data
Open data is data that anyone can access, use and share
