Types of Data: Structured vs Unstructured

Not all data looks the same, and the way it's shaped will directly affect how you work with it.

Before you analyze anything, one of the first questions to ask is: What type of data am I working with?

Some data is highly organized and easy to sort. Other data is free-form, or deeply contextual. They require different tools, storage systems, and processing techniques.

As a data analyst, you'll often need to:

• Choose the right format to store or query data
• Understand what cleaning steps are needed
• Select tools based on the data structure

Recognizing whether your data is structured or unstructured helps you think ahead, avoid pitfalls, and select the right approach.

You We'll explore the characteristics and real-world examples of each data type through the slides.