Types of Datasets

A dataset (or data in general) can be viewed as a collection of items and attributes describing those items.

We have two broad categories of datasets:

1. Tables

2. Networks & Trees

Tables

It is a collection of rows and columns, each row representing an item and each column an attribute.

Ideally, every item should have values for all attributes i.e. no missing values. Also, all items have the same type of value for a given attribute.

Networks & Trees

They are used to represent linked items.

The items are represented as nodes and they are connected using links.

In trees, each node has only one parent.

Both nodes and links can have attributes.