In database terminology, what is a single piece of information called?

In database terminology, a single piece of information is referred to as a field. A field is the smallest unit of data that can be stored in a database, representing a specific attribute or characteristic of an entity. For example, in a table that holds information about individuals, fields might include first name, last name, email address, and phone number, with each field capturing one aspect of the individual's information.

Understanding the context of database structures is important as it helps delineate how data is organized. A record, on the other hand, is a complete set of fields representing a single entry in the database (e.g., all the information about one person). Rows typically refer to these records in a table format, while columns are vertical structures that represent all the data points for a specific field across multiple records. Therefore, selecting "field" accurately identifies what a single piece of information is called within the broader context of data organization in databases.