Difference Between Word Processing and Data Processing

Word Processing vs Data Processing

Summary: Difference Between Word Processing and Data Processing is that Word processing software, sometimes called a word processor, allows users to create and manipulate documents containing mostly text and sometimes graphics. While the processing of gathering and manipulating data and then sorting it into some meaningful form is called Data Processing.

Word Processing

Word processing software, sometimes called a word processor, allows users to create and manipulate documents containing mostly text and sometimes graphics. Millions of people use word processing software every day to develop documents such as letters, memos, reports, mailing labels, newsletters, and Web pages. A major advantage of using word processing software is that users easily can change what they have written. Word processing software also has many features to make documents look professional and visually appealing. For example, you can change the shape, size, and color of characters; apply special effects such as three-dimensional shadows; and organize text in newspaper-style columns.

Most word processing software allows users to incorporate graphical images, such as digital photos and clip art, in documents. Clip art is a collection of drawings, photos, and other images. A user inserted an image of a baseball player in the document. With word processing software, you easily can modify the appearance of an image after inserting it in the document. You can use word processing software to define the size of the paper on which to print and specify the margins.

A feature, called wordwrap, allows users to type words in a paragraph continually without pressing the enter key at the end of each line. As you type more lines of text than can be displayed on the screen, the top portion of the document moves upward, or scrolls, off the screen.

Data Processing

The processing of gathering and manipulating data and then sorting it into some meaningful form is called Data Processing. Data Processing can also be referred to all general operation computer process. There are various steps in data processing.

Validating the Data: Making sure that collected data is out of errors, and is accurate or useful.
Sorting the Data: Arranging this data in different sequences or orders.
Summarization: Distilling data to the main point in the whole Data Processing.
Aggregation: Combining all the chunks of data.
Analysis: The actual process where collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting the data takes place.
Reporting: Summary of all the information you processed.
Classification: Separate your data into various categories.