Datasets: Datasets are logical or physical collections of data records. They serve as containers that hold related information, structured in a way that facilitates efficient data access and management. Datasets can represent files stored on disk or datasets maintained within a database system.
Records: Records are individual units of data within a dataset. Each record contains a set of related information, representing a single entity or data entry. In a database context, records are equivalent to rows in a table, with each record holding specific attributes or fields.
Fields: Fields are the smallest components within a record and represent individual data elements. They store the actual data values corresponding to specific attributes of the entity represented by the record. Fields can be data types like text, numbers, dates, or other formats, depending on the nature of the data they hold.
Understanding datasets, records, and fields is crucial for effective data management and manipulation in various applications, including database systems, file processing, and programming in languages like COBOL.