What is the main difference between structured and unstructured data?

The main distinction between structured and unstructured data lies in their organization and searchability. Structured data is highly organized, typically formatted in a way that makes it easy to enter, query, and analyze using traditional databases. This organization means that it can be easily searched and accessed through predefined schemas, such as rows and columns in a relational database.

On the other hand, unstructured data lacks this predefined format, making it more challenging to search and analyze. Examples of unstructured data include text documents, images, videos, and social media posts, which do not fit neatly into tables or databases. As a result, retrieving specific information from unstructured data often requires more advanced techniques such as natural language processing or machine learning.

This clarity on the searchability aspect is crucial because it highlights the practical implications of working with these two types of data in various applications and systems.