Dátda

Dátda is a term used in some data-theory writings to denote the basic unit of information within a dataset. It is analogous to the word datum in English but is defined with broader semantics in certain models: a dátda consists of a value and an identity tag that locates it within a dataset. In many contexts dádtas are considered atomic: they are not subdivided within that model, though a dataset can contain multiple dádtas of varying types.

The typical structure of a dátda includes a value component and optional metadata. The value component can be primitive types such as booleans, integers, floats, strings, or dates, as well as composite types like lists or records. The metadata component may include a timestamp, provenance, data-quality indicators, and a data-type tag. Some models treat the data and metadata separately, with the dátda acting as an envelope that binds them together.

Dádtas are used in data modeling, indexing, and interchange formats to support precise addressing and lineage tracking, since each dátda can have a unique identifier within a dataset or namespace. They are compatible with relational, document, or graph data models, depending on how the value is structured and how keys are defined.

The term dátda appears in contemporary data-theory writings as a neologism intended to emphasize the indivisible nature of information units in certain frameworks. It is not meant to replace established terms like datum or data but to describe specific modeling concepts within particular theoretical approaches.

See also: datum, data, data model, metadata, dataset, information theory.