Data and Knowledge

Data: Data is raw. it simply exists and has no significance beyond its existence. it can exist in any form, usable or not. it does not have meaning of itself. in computer parlance, a spreadsheet generally starts out by holding data.
Knowledge: Knowledge is the appropriate collection of information, such that it's intent is to be useful. knowledge is a deterministic process. in the computer parlance, most of the applications we use exercise some type of shared knowledge.