data entry

1. The action of providing, usually at the keyboard, data values to a computer program. Data entry is performed by the user of an application at run time. In a database application, these values are usually stored in a database.

See also application program, key, user interaction statements.

2. A set of data values to be stored in program variables, and often, in a database table. The INPUT, INPUT ARRAY, and PROMPT statements accept data entry.

See also query criteria, table, user interaction statement.