2.1 Basic Idea
    Think of your checkbook ledger.  This is where you keep information about all of the checks you cashed.  It contains information about the check number, the date, who you made it out to (payee) and the amount.  Each of these items, the check number, the date, who you made it out to and the amount, are all data.  Data are the raw facts and figures.   A database is a storage place for data.  See Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 - Typical Check Book Ledger - A Database.

Ways of Representing Data
   You can think of information as a structured way of presenting data.  For example, the above check book ledger gives you information about the checks you have cashed.  This information about your checks actually came from the check itself.  See Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2 - Basic Check

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