What differentiates structured data from unstructured data?

The differentiation between structured data and unstructured data primarily lies in organization and format. Structured data adheres to a defined schema or format, making it easily searchable and analyzable. Examples include databases where data is organized in tables with rows and columns, allowing for straightforward querying. On the other hand, unstructured data does not conform to a predefined structure, taking forms such as text files, videos, images, and social media posts. Because of this lack of organization, unstructured data often requires more complex methods for analysis and retrieval.

The other choices suggest incorrect interpretations of structured and unstructured data. For instance, stating that structured data can only be numbers limits its definition; it can include dates, strings, and other data types. The assertion that structured data is only found in databases also disregards the organization aspect, as structured data can exist in various forms but must comply with a specific format. Lastly, the idea that structured data requires less storage than unstructured data is context-dependent and does not inherently define the difference between the two types of data.