Glossary Flashcards
A/B testing
The process of testing two variations of the same web page to determine which page is more successful at attracting user traffic and generating revenue.
Absolute reference
A reference within a function that is locked so that rows and columns won’t change if the function is copied.
Access control
Features such as password protection, user permissions, and encryption that are used to protect a spreadsheet.
Accuracy
The degree to which data conforms to the actual entity being measured or described.
Action-oriented question
A question whose answers lead to change.
Administrative metadata
Metadata that indicates the technical source of a digital asset.
Aesthetic (R)
A visual property of an object in a plot.
Agenda
A list of scheduled appointments.
Aggregation
The process of collecting or gathering many separate pieces into a whole.
Algorithm
A process or set of rules followed for a specific task.
Aliasing
Temporarily naming a table or column in a query to make it easier to read and write.
Alternative text
Text that provides an alternative to non-text content such as images and videos.
Analytical skills
Qualities and characteristics associated with using facts to solve problems.
Analytical thinking
The process of identifying and defining a problem, then solving it by using data in an organized step-by-step manner.
Annotation
Text that briefly explains data or helps focus the audience on a particular aspect of the data in a visualization.
Anscombe’s quartet
Four datasets that have nearly identical summary statistics but contain different plotted values.
Area chart
A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable connected by a continuous line with a filled-in area underneath.
Argument (R)
Information needed by a function in R in order to run.
Arithmetic operator
An operator used to perform basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Array
A collection of values in spreadsheet cells.
Assignment operator
An operator used to assign values to variables and vectors.
Attribute
A characteristic or quality of data used to label a column in a table.
Audio file
Digitized audio storage usually in an MP3, AAC, or other compressed format.
AVERAGE
A spreadsheet function that returns an average of the values from a selected range.
AVERAGEIF
A spreadsheet function that returns the average of all cell values from a given range that meet a specified condition.
Bad data source
A data source that is not reliable, original, comprehensive, current, and cited (ROCCC).
Balance
The design principle of creating aesthetic appeal and clarity in a data visualization by evenly distributing visual elements.
Bar graph
A data visualization that uses size to contrast and compare two or more values.
Bias
A conscious or subconscious preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing.
Big data
Large complex datasets typically involving long periods of time which enable data analysts to address far-reaching business problems.
Boolean data
A data type with only two possible values, usually true or false.
Borders
Lines that can be added around two or more cells on a spreadsheet.
Box plot
A data visualization that displays the distribution of values along an x-axis.
Bubble chart
A data visualization that displays individual data points as bubbles, comparing numeric values by their relative size.
Bullet graph
A data visualization that displays data as a horizontal bar chart moving toward a desired value.
Business metric
A standard of measurement used to solve a business task.
Business task
The question or problem data analysis resolves for a business.
C#
An object-oriented programming language used to create games and mobile apps in the .NET open source developer platform.
C++
An extension of the C programming language that is used to create console games such as those for Xbox.
Calculated field
A new field within a pivot table that carries out certain calculations based on the values of other fields.
Calculus
A branch of mathematics that involves the study of rates of change and the changes between values that are related by a function.
CASE
A SQL statement that returns records that meet conditions by including an if/then statement in a query.
Case study
A common way for employers to assess job skills and gain insight into how a candidate approaches common data-related challenges.
CAST
A SQL function that converts data from one datatype to another.
Causation
When an action directly leads to an outcome, such as a cause-effect relationship.
Cell reference
A cell or a range of cells in a worksheet typically used in formulas and functions.
Changelog
A file containing a chronologically ordered list of modifications made to a project.
Channel
A visual aspect or variable that represents characteristics of the data in a visualization.
Chart
A graphical representation of data from a worksheet.
Circle view
A data visualization that shows comparative strength in data.
Clean data
Data that is complete, correct, and relevant to the problem being solved.
Cloud
A place to keep data online rather than a computer hard drive.
Cluster
A collection of data points on a data visualization with similar values.
COALESCE
A SQL function that returns non-null values in a list.
Code chunk
A piece of code added in an R Markdown file that is used to process, visualize, or analyze data.
Coding
The process of writing instructions to a computer in the syntax of a specific programming language.
Column chart
A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable represented as vertical columns.
Combo chart
A data visualization that combines more than one visualization type.
Compatibility
How well two or more datasets are able to work together.
Completeness
The degree to which data contains all desired components or measures.
Computer programming
The process of giving instructions to a computer in order to perform an action or set of actions.
CONCAT
A SQL function that adds strings together to create new text strings that can be used as unique keys.
CONCATENATE
A spreadsheet function that joins together two or more text strings.
Conditional formatting
A spreadsheet tool that changes how cells appear when values meet specific conditions.
Conditional statement
A declaration that if a certain condition holds, then a certain event must take place.
Confidence interval
A range of values that conveys how likely a statistical estimate reflects the population.
Confidence level
The probability that a sample size accurately reflects the greater population.
Confirmation bias
The tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms pre-existing beliefs.
Consent
The aspect of data ethics that presumes an individual’s right to know how and why their personal data will be used before agreeing to provide it.
Consistency
The degree to which data is repeatable from different points of entry or collection.
Context
The condition in which something exists or happens.
Continuous data
Data that is measured and can have almost any numeric value.
CONVERT
A SQL function that changes the unit of measurement of a value in data.
Cookie
A small file stored on a computer that contains information about its users.
Correlation
The measure of the degree to which two variables change in relationship to each other.
COUNT
A spreadsheet function that counts the number of cells within a range that meet a specified condition.
COUNTA
A spreadsheet function that counts the total number of values within a specified range that meet specified criteria.
COUNTIF
A spreadsheet function that returns the number of cells within a range that match a specified value.
COUNT DISTINCT
A SQL function that only returns the distinct values in a specified range.
CRAN (R)
An online archive with R packages, source code, manuals, and documentation.
CREATE TABLE
A SQL clause that adds a temporary table to a database that can be used by multiple people.
Cross-field validation
A process that ensures certain conditions for multiple data fields are satisfied.
CSS
A programming language used for web page design that controls graphic elements and page presentation.
CSV
A delimited text file that uses a comma to separate values.
Currency
The aspect of data ethics that presumes individuals should be aware of financial transactions resulting from the use of their personal data and the scale of those transactions.
Dashboard
A tool that monitors live incoming data.
Data
A collection of facts.
Data aggregation
The process of gathering data from multiple sources and combining it into a single summarized collection.
Data analysis
The collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.
Data analysis process
The six phases of ask, prepare, process, analyze, share, and act, whose purpose is to gain insights that drive informed decision-making.
Data analyst
Someone who collects, transforms, and organizes data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.
Data analytics
The science of data.
Data anonymization
The process of protecting people’s private or sensitive data by eliminating identifying information.
Data bias
When a preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing systematically skews data analysis results in a certain direction.
Data blending
A Tableau method that combines data from multiple data sources.
Data composition
The process of combining the individual parts in a visualization and displaying them together as a whole.
Data constraints
The criteria that determine whether a piece of data is clean and valid.
Data design
How information is organized.
Data-driven decision-making
Using facts to guide business strategy.
Data ecosystem
The various elements that interact with one another in order to produce, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data.
Data element
A piece of information in a dataset.
Data engineer
A professional who transforms data into a useful format for analysis and gives it a reliable infrastructure.
Data ethics
Well-founded standards of right and wrong that dictate how data is collected, shared, and used.
Data frame
A collection of columns containing data similar to a spreadsheet or SQL table.
Data governance
A process for ensuring the formal management of a company’s data assets.
Data-inspired decision-making
Exploring different data sources to find out what they have in common.
Data integrity
The accuracy, completeness, consistency, and trustworthiness of data throughout its life cycle.
Data interoperability
The ability to integrate data from multiple sources and a key factor leading to the successful use of open data among companies and governments.
Data life cycle
The sequence of stages that data experiences, which include plan, capture, manage, analyze, archive, and destroy.
Data manipulation
The process of changing data to make it more organized and easier to read.
Data mapping
The process of matching fields from one data source to another.
Data merging
The process of combining two or more datasets into a single dataset.
Data model
A tool for organizing data elements and how they relate to one another.
Data privacy
Preserving a data subject’s information any time a data transaction occurs.
Data range
Numerical values that fall between predefined maximum and minimum values.
Data replication
The process of storing data in multiple locations.
Data science
A field of study that uses raw data to create new ways of modeling and understanding the unknown.
Data security
Protecting data from unauthorized access or corruption by adopting safety measures.
Data storytelling
Communicating the meaning of a dataset with visuals and a narrative that are customized for an audience.
Data strategy
The management of the people, processes, and tools used in data analysis.
Data structure
A format for organizing and storing data.
Data transfer
The process of copying data from a storage device to computer memory or from one computer to another.
Data type
An attribute that describes a piece of data based on its values, its programming language, or the operations it can perform.
Data validation
A tool for checking the accuracy and quality of data.
Data validation process
The process of checking and rechecking the quality of data so that it is complete, accurate, secure, and consistent.
Data visualization
The graphical representation of data.
Data warehousing specialist
A professional who develops processes and procedures to effectively store and organize data.
Database
A collection of data stored in a computer system.
Dataset
A collection of data that can be manipulated or analyzed as one unit.
DATEDIF
A spreadsheet function that calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates.
Decision tree
A tool that helps analysts make decisions about critical features of a visualization.
Delimiter
A character that indicates the beginning or end of a data item.
Density map
A data visualization that represents concentrations with color representing the number or frequency of data points in a given area on a map.
Descriptive metadata
Metadata that describes a piece of data and can be used to identify it at a later point in time.
Design thinking
A process used to solve complex problems in a user-centric way.
Digital photo
An electronic or computer-based image, usually in BMP or JPG format.
Dirty data
Data that is incomplete, incorrect, or irrelevant to the problem to be solved.
Discrete data
Data that is counted and has a limited number of values.
DISTINCT
A keyword that is added to a SQL SELECT statement to retrieve only non-duplicate entries.
Distribution graph
A data visualization that displays the frequency of various outcomes in a sample.
Diverging color palette
A color theme that displays two ranges of data values using two different hues with color intensity representing the magnitude of the values.
Donut chart
A data visualization where segments of a ring represent data values adding up to a whole.
dplyr (R)
An R package in Tidyverse that offers a consistent set of functions to complete common data-manipulation tasks.
DROP TABLE
A SQL clause that removes a temporary table from a database.
Duplicate data
Any record that inadvertently shares data with another record.
Dynamic visualizations
Data visualizations that are interactive or change over time.
Elevator pitch
A short statement describing an idea or concept.
Emphasis
The design principle of arranging visual elements to focus the audience’s attention on important information in a data visualization.
Engagement
Capturing and holding someone’s interest and attention during a data presentation.
Equation
A calculation that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division (also called a math expression).
Estimated response rate
The average number of people who typically complete a survey.
Ethics
Well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.
External data
Data that lives and is generated outside of an organization.
Facets (R)
A series of functions that splits data into subsets in a matrix of panels.
Factor (R)
An object that stores categorical data where the data values are limited and usually based on a finite group such as country or year.
Fairness
A quality of data analysis that does not create or reinforce bias.
Field
A single piece of information from a row or column of a spreadsheet; in a data table, typically a column in the table.
Field length
A tool for determining how many characters can be keyed into a spreadsheet field.
Fill handle
A box in the lower-right-hand corner of a selected spreadsheet cell that can be dragged through neighboring cells in order to continue an instruction.
Filled map
A data visualization that colors areas in a map based on measurements or dimensions.
Filtering
The process of showing only the data that meets a specified criteria while hiding the rest.
Find and replace
A tool that finds a specified search term and replaces it with something else.
First-party data
Data collected by an individual or group using their own resources.
Float
A number that contains a decimal.
Foreign key
A field within a database table that is a primary key in another table (Refer to primary key).
Formula
A set of instructions used to perform a calculation using the data in a spreadsheet.
Framework
The context a presentation needs to create logical connections that tie back to the business task and metrics.
FROM
The section of a query that indicates from which table(s) to extract the data.
Function
A preset command that automatically performs a specific process or task using the data in a spreadsheet.
Function (R)
A body of reusable code for performing specific tasks in R.
FWF
A text file with a specific format which enables the saving of textual data in an organized fashion.
GAM
A process for smoothing plots with a large number of points.
Gantt chart
A data visualization that displays the duration of events or activities on a timeline.
Gap analysis
A method for examining and evaluating the current state of a process in order to identify opportunities for improvement in the future.
Gauge chart
A data visualization that shows a single result within a progressive range of values.
GDPR
Policy-making body in the European Union created to help protect people and their data.
Geolocation
The geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information.
Geom (R)
The geometric object used to represent data.
ggplot2 (R)
An R package in Tidyverse that creates a variety of data visualizations by applying different visual properties to the data variables in R.
Good data source
A data source that is reliable, original, comprehensive, current, and cited (ROCCC).
GROUP BY
A SQL clause that groups rows that have the same values from a table into summary rows.
HAVING
A SQL clause that adds a filter to a query instead of the underlying table that can only be used with aggregate functions.
head() (R)
An R function that returns a preview of the column names and the first few rows of a dataset.
Header
The first row in a spreadsheet that labels the type of data in each column.
Headline
Text at the top of a visualization that communicates the data being presented.
Heat map
A data visualization that uses color contrast to compare categories in a dataset.
Highlight table
A data visualization that uses conditional formatting and color on a table.
Highlight table
A data visualization that uses conditional formatting and color on a table
Histogram
A data visualization that shows how often data values fall into certain ranges
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
The set of markup symbols or codes used to create a webpage
HTML5
A programming language that provides structure for web pages and connects to hosting platforms
Hypothesis
A theory that one might try to prove or disprove with data
Hypothesis testing
A process to determine if a survey or experiment has meaningful results
IDE (Integrated Development Environment)
A software application that brings together all the tools a data analyst may want to use in a single place
Incomplete data
Data that is missing important fields
Inconsistent data
Data that uses different formats to represent the same thing
Incorrect/inaccurate data
Data that is complete but inaccurate
Inline code
Code that can be inserted directly into the text of an R Markdown file
INNER JOIN
A SQL function that returns records with matching values in both tables
Inner query
A SQL subquery that is inside of another SQL statement
Internal data
Data that lives within a company’s own systems
Interpretation bias
The tendency to interpret ambiguous situations in a positive or negative way
Java
A programming language widely used to create enterprise web applications that can run on multiple clients
JOIN
A SQL function that is used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column
Jupyter Notebook
An open-source web application used to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations and narrative text
Label
Text in a visualization that identifies a value or describes a scale
Labels and annotations (R)
A group of R functions used for customizing a plot
Leading question
A question that steers people toward a certain response
LEFT
A function that returns a set number of characters from the left side of a text string
LEFT JOIN
A SQL function that will return all the records from the left table and only the matching records from the right table
Legend
A tool that identifies the meaning of various elements in a data visualization
LEN
A function that returns the length of a text string by counting the number of characters it contains
Length
The number of characters in a text string
Library
A directory containing all of a data analyst’s installed packages
LIMIT
A SQL clause that specifies the maximum number of records returned in a query
Line graph
A data visualization that uses one or more lines to display shifts or changes in data over time
List
A vector whose elements can be of any type
Live data
Data that is automatically updated
Loess smoothing (R)
A process used for smoothing plots with fewer than 1,000 points
Log file
A computer-generated file that records events from operating systems and other software programs
Logical operator
An operator that returns a logical data type
Long data
A dataset in which each row is one time point per subject, so each subject has data in multiple rows
Mandatory
A data value that cannot be left blank or empty
Map
A data visualization that organizes data geographically
Mapping (R)
The process of matching up a specific variable in a dataset with a specific aesthetic
Margin of error
The maximum amount that sample results are expected to differ from those of the actual population
Markdown (R)
A syntax for formatting plain text files
Mark
A visual object in a data visualization such as a point, line, or shape
MATCH
A spreadsheet function used to locate the position of a specific lookup value
Math expression
A calculation that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division (also called an equation)
Math function
A function that is used as part of a mathematical formula
Matrix
A two-dimensional collection of data elements with rows and columns
MAX
A spreadsheet function that returns the largest numeric value from a range of cells
MAXIFS
A spreadsheet function that returns the maximum value from a given range that meets a specified condition
McCandless Method
A method for presenting data visualizations that moves from general to specific information
Measurable question
A question whose answers can be quantified and assessed
Mental model
A data analyst’s thought process and approach to a problem
Mentor
Someone who shares knowledge, skills, and experience to help another grow both professionally and personally
Merger
An agreement that unites two organizations into a single new one
Metadata
Data about data
Metadata repository
A database created to store metadata
Metric
A single, quantifiable type of data that is used for measurement
Metric goal
A measurable goal set by a company and evaluated using metrics
MID
A function that returns a segment from the middle of a text string
MIN
A spreadsheet function that returns the smallest numeric value from a range of cells
MINIFS
A spreadsheet function that returns the minimum value from a given range that meets a specified condition
Modulo
An operator (%) that returns the remainder when one number is divided by another
Movement
The design principle of arranging visual elements to guide the audience’s eyes from one part of a data visualization to another
Naming conventions
Consistent guidelines that describe the content, creation date, and version of a file in its name
Narrative
(Refer to Story)
Nested
Code that performs a particular function and is contained within code that performs a broader function
Nested function
A function that is completely contained within another function
Networking
Building relationships by meeting people both in person and online
Nominal data
A type of qualitative data that is categorized without a set order
Normalized database
A database in which only related data is stored in each table
Notebook
An interactive, editable programming environment for creating data reports and showcasing data skills
Null
An indication that a value does not exist in a dataset
Observation
The attributes that describe a piece of data contained in a row of a table
Observer bias
The tendency for different people to observe things differently (also called experimenter bias)
Open data
Data that is available to the public
Open-source
Code that is freely available and may be modified and shared by the people who use it
Openness
The aspect of data ethics that promotes the free access, usage, and sharing of data
Operator
A symbol that names the operation or calculation to be performed
ORDER BY
A SQL clause that sorts results returned in a query
Order of operations
Using parentheses to group together spreadsheet values in order to clarify the order in which operations should be performed
Ordinal data
Qualitative data with a set order or scale
Outdated data
Any data that has been superseded by newer and more accurate information
OUTER JOIN
A SQL function that combines RIGHT and LEFT JOIN to return all matching records in both tables
Outer query
A SQL statement containing a subquery
Ownership
The aspect of data ethics that presumes individuals own the raw data they provide and have primary control over its usage, processing, and sharing
Package (R)
A unit of reproducible R code
Packed bubble chart
A data visualization that displays data in clustered circles
Pattern
The design principle of using similar visual elements to demonstrate trends and relationships in a data visualization
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
A programming language for web application development
Pie chart
A data visualization that uses segments of a circle to represent the proportions of each data category compared to the whole
Pipe (R)
A tool in R for expressing a sequence of multiple operations, represented with “%>%”
Pivot chart
A chart created from the fields in a pivot table
Pivot table
A data summarization tool used to sort, reorganize, group, count, total, or average data
Pixel
In digital imaging, a small area of illumination on a display screen that, when combined with other adjacent areas, forms a digital image
Population
In data analytics, all possible data values in a dataset
Portfolio
A collection of materials that can be shared with potential employers
Pre-attentive attributes
The elements of a data visualization that an audience recognizes automatically without conscious effort
Primary key
An identifier in a database that references a column in which each value is unique (Refer to foreign key)
Problem domain
The area of analysis that encompasses every activity affecting or affected by a problem
Problem types
The various problems that data analysts encounter, including categorizing things, discovering connections, finding patterns, identifying themes, making predictions, and spotting something unusual
Profit margin
A percentage that indicates how many cents of profit has been generated for each dollar of sale
Programming language
A system of words and symbols used to write instructions that computers follow
Proportion
The design principle of using the relative size and arrangement of visual elements to demonstrate information in a data visualization
Python
A general-purpose programming language
Qualitative data
A subjective and explanatory measure of a quality or characteristic
Quantitative data
A specific and objective measure, such as a number, quantity, or range
Query
A request for data or information from a database
Query language
A computer programming language used to communicate with a database
R
A programming language used for statistical analysis, visualization, and other data analysis
R Markdown
A file format for making dynamic documents with R
R Notebook
A document for running code and displaying the graphs and charts that visualize the code
Random sampling
A way of selecting a sample from a population so that every possible type of the sample has an equal chance of being chosen
Range
A collection of two or more cells in a spreadsheet
Ranking
A system to position values of a dataset within a scale of achievement or status
Record
A collection of related data in a data table, usually synonymous with row
Redundancy
When the same piece of data is stored in two or more places
Reframing
The process of restating a problem or challenge, then redirecting it toward a potential resolution
Regular expression (RegEx)
A rule that says the values in a table must match a prescribed pattern
Relational database
A database that contains a series of tables that can be connected to form relationships
Relational operator
An operator used to compare values, also known as a comparator
Relativity
The process of considering observations in relation or proportion to something else
Relevant question
A question that has significance to the problem to be solved
Remove duplicates
A spreadsheet tool that automatically searches for and eliminates duplicate entries from a spreadsheet
Repetition
The design principle of repeating visual elements to demonstrate meaning in a data visualization
Report
A static collection of data periodically given to stakeholders
Return on investment (ROI)
A formula that uses the metrics of investment and profit to evaluate the success of an investment
Revenue
The total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services
Rhythm
The design principle of creating movement and flow in a data visualization to engage an audience
RIGHT
A function that returns a set number of characters from the right side of a text string
RIGHT JOIN
A SQL function that will return all records from the right table and only the matching records from the left
Root cause
The reason why a problem occurs
ROUND
A SQL function that returns a number rounded to a certain number of decimal places.
Ruby
An object-oriented programming language for web application development
Sample
In data analytics, a segment of a population that is representative of the entire population
Sampling bias
Overrepresenting or underrepresenting certain members of a population as a result of working with a sample that is not representative of the population as a whole
Scatterplot
A data visualization that represents relationships between different variables with individual data points without a connecting line
Schema
A way of describing how something, such as data, is organized
Scope of work (SOW)
An agreed-upon outline of the tasks to be performed during a project
Second-party data
Data collected by a group directly from its audience and then sold
SELECT
The section of a query that indicates from which column(s) to extract the data
SELECT INTO
A SQL clause that copies data from one table into a temporary table without adding the new table to the database
Shiny (R)
An R package used to build interactive web apps with R code
Small data
Small, specific data points typically involving a short period of time, which are useful for making day-to-day decisions
SMART methodology
A tool for determining a question’s effectiveness based on whether it is specific, measurable, action-oriented, relevant, and time-bound
Smoothing (R)
A process used to make data visualizations in R clearer and more readable
Smoothing line (R)
A line on a data visualization that uses smoothing to represent a trend
Social media
Websites and applications through which users create and share content or participate in social networking
Soft skills
Nontechnical traits and behaviors that relate to how people work
Sort range
A spreadsheet menu function that sorts a specified range and preserves the cells outside the range
Sort sheet
A spreadsheet menu function that sorts all data by the ranking of a specific sorted column and keeps data together across rows
Sorting
The process of arranging data into a meaningful order to make it easier to understand, analyze, and visualize
Specific question
A question that is simple, significant, and focused on a single topic or a few closely related ideas
SPLIT
A spreadsheet function that divides text around a specified character and puts each fragment into a new, separate cell
Sponsor
A professional advocate who is committed to moving forward the career of another
Spotlightling
Scanning through data to quickly identify the most important insights
Spreadsheet
A digital worksheet
SQL
(Refer to Structured Query Language)
Stakeholders
People who invest time and resources into a project and are interested in its outcome
Static data
Data that doesn’t change once it has been recorded
Static visualization
A data visualization that does not change over time unless it is edited
Statistical power
The probability that a test of significance will recognize an effect that is present
Statistical significance
The probability that sample results are not due to random chance
Statistics
The study of how to collect, analyze, summarize, and present data
Story
The narrative of a data presentation that makes it meaningful and interesting
String data type
A sequence of characters and punctuation that contains textual information (also called text data type)
Structural metadata
Metadata that indicates how a piece of data is organized and whether it is part of one or more than one data collection
Structured data
Data organized in a certain format such as rows and columns
Structured Query Language
A computer programming language used to communicate with a database
Structured thinking
The process of recognizing the current problem or situation, organizing available information, revealing gaps and opportunities, and identifying options
Subquery
A SQL query that is nested inside a larger query
SUBSTR
A SQL function that extracts a substring from a string variable
Substring
A subset of a text string
Subtitle
Text that supports a headline by adding context and description
SUM
A spreadsheet function that adds the values of a selected range of cells
SUMIF
A spreadsheet function that adds numeric data based on one condition
Summary table
A table used to summarize statistical information about data
SUMPRODUCT
A function that multiplies arrays and returns the sum of those products
Swift
A programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS
Symbol map
A data visualization that displays a mark over a given longitude and latitude
Syntax
The predetermined structure of a language that includes all required words, symbols, and punctuation, as well as their proper placement
Tableau
A business intelligence and analytics platform that helps people visualize, understand, and make decisions with data
Technical mindset
The ability to break things down into smaller steps or pieces and work with them in an orderly and logical way
Temporary table
A database table that is created and exists temporarily on a database server
Text data type
A sequence of characters and punctuation that contains textual information (also called string data type)
Text string
A group of characters within a cell, most often composed of letters
Third-party data
Data provided from outside sources that did not collect it directly
Tibble (R)
A streamlined variation of data frames
Tidy data (R)
A way of standardizing the organization of data within R
Tidyverse (R)
A system of packages in R with a common design philosophy for data manipulation, exploration, and visualization
Time-bound question
A question that specifies a timeframe to be studied
Transaction transparency
The aspect of data ethics that presumes all data-processing activities and algorithms should be explainable and understood by the individual who provides the data
Transferable skills
Skills and qualities that can transfer from one job or industry to another
TRIM
A function that removes leading, trailing, and repeated spaces in data
TSV (Tab-separated values file)
A text file that stores a data table by separating columns of data with tabs
Turnover rate
The rate at which employees voluntarily leave a company
Typecasting
Converting data from one type to another
Unbiased sampling
When the sample of the population being measured is representative of the population as a whole
Underscores
Lines used to underline words and connect text characters
Unfair question
A question that makes assumptions or is difficult to answer honestly
Unique
A value that can’t have a duplicate
United States Census Bureau
An agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy
Unity
The design principle of using visual elements that complement each other to create aesthetic appeal and clarity in a data visualization
Unstructured data
Data that is not organized in any easily identifiable manner
Validity
The degree to which data conforms to constraints when it is input, collected, or created
VALUE
A spreadsheet function that converts a text string that represents a number to a numeric value
Variable (R)
A representation of a value in R that can be stored for later use
Variety
The design principle of using different kinds of visual elements in a data visualization to engage an audience
Vector (R)
A group of data elements of the same type stored in a one-dimensional sequence in R
Verification
A process to confirm that a data-cleaning effort was well executed and the resulting data is accurate and reliable
Video file
A collection of images, audio files, and other data usually encoded in a compressed format such as MP4, MV4, MOV, AVI, or FLV
Vignette (R)
Documentation for an R package that describes the problem the package is designed to solve, explains how its functions can be used, and lists any dependencies on other packages
Visual form
The appearance of a data visualization that gives it structure and aesthetic appeal
Visualization
(Refer to Data visualization)
VLOOKUP
A spreadsheet function that vertically searches for a certain value in a column to return a corresponding piece of information
WHERE
The section of a query that specifies criteria that the requested data must meet
Wide data
A dataset in which every data subject has a single row with multiple columns to hold the values of various attributes of the subject
WITH
A SQL clause that creates a temporary table that can be queried multiple times
World Health Organization
An organization whose primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system
X-axis
The horizontal line of a graph usually placed at the bottom, which is often used to represent time scales and discrete categories
Y-axis
The vertical line of a graph usually placed to the left, which is often used to represent frequencies and other numerical variables
YAML
A language that translates data to improve readability
