The first stage in computer data processing procedures is:
1. **Data Input**: This initial stage involves entering raw data into the computer system. Data can be inputted through various devices like keyboards, mice, scanners, etc. For example, when you type a document on your computer, you are inputting data into the system.
2. **Data Collection**: In this stage, the system gathers and organizes the inputted data for further processing. Data can come from different sources such as sensors, databases, or manual input by users. For instance, a company collecting sales data from different stores to analyze overall performance.
3. **Data Processing**: Once the data is collected, the computer processes it by performing operations like calculations, sorting, summarizing, or analyzing. This stage transforms the raw data into meaningful information. For instance, calculating the total sales for a specific period from the collected sales data.
These stages are crucial in the data processing procedure as they lay the foundation for the subsequent steps involved in analyzing, interpreting, and utilizing the processed data for various purposes.
