Dato

Dato is a term used in several languages to denote a unit of information or a fact. In Spanish, for example, a dato (plural datos) is a single piece of information or data point, often encountered in statistics, research, and everyday use. Phrases such as dato personal (personal data) or datos abiertos (open data) are common. In Italian and other Romance languages, similar uses are found for a datum-like meaning.

Etymology and English usage: the word derives from Latin datum, meaning “something given,” the neuter past participle of dare “to give.” In English, datum (singular) traditionally referred to a single fact or measurement, while data (plural) referred to a collection. In modern usage, data is often treated as a mass or plural noun, though some fields still retain a strict singular datum for a single value.

Specialized meanings: in computing and information science, a datum is a single value or measurement, and a dataset is a collection of data points. In cartography, surveying, and geodesy, a datum is a reference model or surface used to define coordinate systems and ensure comparability of measurements across space; examples include the WGS84 and NAD83 datums. Different datums can yield different coordinate values for the same location, necessitating transformations between systems. The term also appears in philosophy and logic as a given fact or starting point for analysis.

Cross-language notes: while the core sense of dato as a discrete piece of information is common in several languages, meanings can diverge in contexts like dates or non-information senses, so usage should be guided by the specific language and domain.