data file
noun
variants
or less commonly datafile
plural data files also datafiles
: a digital file on which data is stored
Call a professional and check your system before trying to insert that recovery disk. If the disk is readable, your important data files can be copied before any reinstalling activity starts.—
George Cox
George Cox
Examples of data file in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since data at rest is either stored in a database or file, in both cases, the data and data files (including your regular Windows files) need to be encrypted or anonymized.
—Valentine Wats, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
In the weeks after the Gino revelations, some of her co-authors have audited their work, although Gino did not provide original data files for comparison.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Maryland’s inspector general for education says there is no evidence state leaders acted improperly in altering some test score data files on the education department website to comply with federal privacy laws for students.
—Lillian Reed, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2023
Associated data files Each of your important applications will have associated data files that will have to be transferred to the new computer and placed in the proper location.
—Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2023
Apple has a utility called Migration Assistant, which can transfer apps, users and data files from an old Mac to a new one.
—Jim Rossman, Dallas News, 26 Mar. 2023
The metagenomic data came from around 50 data files, which are listed in the analysis' appendix B, but are currently not publicly available.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2023
The inputs to the encoder are data files containing sound tracks; each track is a file representing one or more instruments.
—Qi “peter” Li, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2022
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Valentine Wats, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
In the weeks after the Gino revelations, some of her co-authors have audited their work, although Gino did not provide original data files for comparison.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Maryland’s inspector general for education says there is no evidence state leaders acted improperly in altering some test score data files on the education department website to comply with federal privacy laws for students.
—Lillian Reed, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2023
Associated data files Each of your important applications will have associated data files that will have to be transferred to the new computer and placed in the proper location.
—Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2023
Apple has a utility called Migration Assistant, which can transfer apps, users and data files from an old Mac to a new one.
—Jim Rossman, Dallas News, 26 Mar. 2023
The metagenomic data came from around 50 data files, which are listed in the analysis' appendix B, but are currently not publicly available.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2023
The inputs to the encoder are data files containing sound tracks; each track is a file representing one or more instruments.
—Qi “peter” Li, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'data file.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1955, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near data file
Cite this Entry
“Data file.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data%20file. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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