Which term refers to the extent to which the data properly conforms to and matches up with the other data?

Which term refers to the extent to which the data properly conforms to and matches up with the other data?

• A. Completeness
• B. Consistency
• C. Timeliness
• D. Conformity

Answer: (B)

Consistency is about data values aligning across related data so there are no contradictions. It measures how well data matches up with other data in the system—when one piece implies another, they should agree. For example, every order should reference a valid customer id, and that customer id should point to the same customer details wherever they appear. If a product price is different in two related tables without justification, that would be an inconsistency. Completeness looks at whether all required fields are present, timeliness at whether data is up-to-date, and conformity (or conformity to standards) at whether data follows defined formats or rules. Even if data is complete and properly formatted, it can still be inconsistent if related data doesn’t agree. That’s why consistency best fits the description.

Consistency is about data values aligning across related data so there are no contradictions. It measures how well data matches up with other data in the system—when one piece implies another, they should agree. For example, every order should reference a valid customer id, and that customer id should point to the same customer details wherever they appear. If a product price is different in two related tables without justification, that would be an inconsistency.

Completeness looks at whether all required fields are present, timeliness at whether data is up-to-date, and conformity (or conformity to standards) at whether data follows defined formats or rules. Even if data is complete and properly formatted, it can still be inconsistent if related data doesn’t agree. That’s why consistency best fits the description.