data processing

American  

[dey-tuh pros-es-ing, dat-uh, dah-tuh] / ˈdeɪ tə ˌprɒs ɛs ɪŋ, ˈdæt ə, ˈdɑ tə /

noun

1. processing of information, especially the handling of information by computers in accordance with strictly defined procedures and operations, as aggregation, sorting, analysis, or validation. DP

---

data processing British  

noun

1. 1. a sequence of operations performed on data, esp by a computer, in order to extract information, reorder files, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a data-processing centre

---

data processing Cultural  

1. Either the preparation of data for processing by a computer, or the storage and processing of raw data by the computer itself.

---

Other Word Forms

• data processor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of data processing

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Camera data processing was carried out at the DLR Institute of Space Research in Berlin-Adlershof.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

Nvidia has been able to expand its networking revenue with its Spectrum-X Ethernet platform, Network Interface Cards and BlueField data processing units, he added.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

The problem is that people and businesses fail to distinguish between data processing and data analysis and visualization, says Prof Mark Whitehorn, emeritus professor of analytics at Dundee University.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

The first is the move from CPUs to GPUs for tasks like data processing.

From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025

With a little luck and some hard work, he predicted, Sasha might be able to hold down a low-level job doing data processing.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater