Data Management: Data Element (Definitions)

"An atomic unit of data; in most cases, a field." (Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Data Warehouse Training Kit", 2000)

"(1) an attribute of an entity; (2) a uniquely named and well-defined category of data that consists of data items and that is included in a record of an activity." (William H Inmon, "Building the Data Warehouse", 2005)

"The most atomic, pure, and simple fact that either describes or identifies an entity. This is also known as an attribute. It can be deployed as a column in a table in a physical structure." (Sharon Allen & Evan Terry, "Beginning Relational Data Modeling" 2nd Ed., 2005)

"The smallest unit of data that is named. The values are stored in a column or a field in a database." (Laura Reeves, "A Manager's Guide to Data Warehousing", 2009)

[data attribute:] "1.An inherent fact, property, or characteristic describing an entity or object; the logical representation of a physical field or relational table column. A given attribute has the same format, interpretation, and domain for all occurrences of an entity. Attributes may contain adjective values (red, round, active, etc.). 2.A unit of data for which the definition, identification, representation, and permissible values are specified by means of a set of characteristics. 3.A representation of a data characteristic variation in the logical or physical data model. A data attribute may or may not be atomic." (DAMA International, "The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management", 2011)

"A single unit of data." (SQL Server 2012 Glossary, "Microsoft", 2012)

"A primitive item of data; one that has a value within the context of study and is not further decomposed." (James Robertson et al, "Complete Systems Analysis: The Workbook, the Textbook, the Answers", 2013)

"A unit of data (fact) that can be uniquely defined and used. Example: last name is a data element that can be defined as the family name of an individual and is distinct from other name-related elements." (Gregory Lampshire, "The Data and Analytics Playbook", 2016)

"A basic unit of information that has a unique meaning and subcategories (data items) of distinct value. Examples of data elements include gender, race, and geographic location." (CNSSI 4009-2015)