As you're using it, the term 'data' is referring to the maximum amount of information that can fit in the communications channel you're using.

Your personal data is largely limited by the fact that you're sharing that channel with many other people and your provider is only giving you a certain share of the maximum.

In terms of 'consuming', it would perhaps be better to say 'using'. If I run a bowling alley, I only have a limited number of shoes to rent and I only permit each customer to rent one pair of shoes. This limits the maximum number of customers I can have at one time, but I don't 'consume' the shoes - each customer returns the shoes after they're done.

I haven't seen anyone point out the obvious so here goes .

You are referring to data stores specifically on a computer or device. Others did a good job answering that question so I won't rehash.

What I want to point out is your use of the word data. Data is simply a collection of information. It can be on a computer, on paper. Or in your mind. It does take up both physical and virtual space. It can be word on paper, 1s and 0s on a machine, or neurons in your brain.

What takes up physical space is the symbols we use to represent data. "John Doe lives on 123 Anystreet USA" is the physical characters that make up the set of data. By "virtual space" I am referring to the implications that come with the data. With that information, you know know how to get to John Does house, even though the data doesn't explicitly spell it out.

Tldr: data is the physical representation of a symbol, thought, or idea that occupies space in the physical world and carries certain implications for meaning.

So there are physical and mathematical ties to the concept of information. This is called Information Theory . I'm sure someone with a Theoretical Physics degree that can explain it properly. Just wanted to point it out.

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In networking, using data means using bandwidth (a fraction of the total network speed). It is similar to renting rooms in an apartment building. When you rent a room you are using space in the building. Since the life time of the building is finite using space in the building costs money. Similarly when you watch a video you are using a fraction of the total network bandwidth. The higher the resolution of the video the higher the fraction of the total network bandwidth is used. The longer you watch the higher the fraction when averaged over a month. And similar to a building network equipment life time is finite so using a fraction of the total bandwidth costs a similar fraction of the total network cost.

The dictionary defines information as: Knowledge or facts learned, especially about a certain subject or event

And data is defines as: Facts that can be analyzed or used in an effort to gain knowledge or make decisions

Data and information can have specific definitions and differences in various technical contexts. But colloquially, they are often used interchangeably; or sometimes we define data as the raw knowledge, and information as the additional knowledge inferred from the data.

Data and information are philosophical concepts, they do not have a tangible presence or consume physical space. However you can't store or convey information without some physical medium on which to do so. Data in a brain requires neurons. Data in a book requires ink. Data in computer science requires electricity, or magnetism, or bumps on a polycarbonate surface, etc.

To "use data" doesn't make literal sense in most cases, data as a concept cannot be physically "used", and even as a physical representation often the mechanisms used allow the data to be "consumed" in a way that does not deprive anyone else of it - essentially a copy of the data is communicated.

But when you say "using mobile data" it's clearer what you mean colloquially. In this sense, you are "consuming" a portion of your allotted mobile data plan. Or in other words, it costs money to run a mobile network; you've paid for the ability to send and receive a certain amount of digital data using the provider's network, so performing an activity like browsing web pages or watching YouTube videos counts towards that data usage. And if you go over that limit your access may be blocked, slowed, or incur additional charges. The "usage" and "consumption" occurring here is in the sense of your contract only allows a finite amount of data transmission, it's not like you are physically taking electrons away from YouTube and they might run out. "Using data" is just the shorthand term we use to describe this.

Data is a collection of 0,1s that when grouped together have a meaning. Your consuming data when you watch videos, music... you're reading the data I've typed to you. We both understand the language and it's meaningful data.