Briefly describe the hierarchy of data.

What will be an ideal response?

Data is generally organized in a hierarchy that begins with the smallest piece of data used by computers (a bit) and progresses through the hierarchy to a database. A bit (a binary digit) represents a circuit that is either on or off. Bits can be organized into units called bytes. A byte is typically eight bits. Each byte represents a character, which is the basic building block of most information. Characters are put together to form a field. A field is typically a name, number, or combination of characters that describes an aspect of a business object or activity. A collection of data fields all related to one object, activity, or individual is called a record. A collection of related records is a file. At the highest level of the data hierarchy is a database, a collection of integrated and related files. Together, bits, characters, fields, records, files, and databases form the hierarchy of data.