Electronic data processing (EDP) is the systematic use of computers or other electronic devices to handle data—such as recording, organizing, calculating, changing, storing, or presenting it—for a defined purpose. The exact steps depend on the task.
What electronic data processing involves
EDP describes a broad process rather than a particular computer, application, or software product. A typical task takes data in, performs operations on it, and stores or presents the result in a usable form. For example, a business might enter transaction details, update its records, calculate amounts due, and produce bills or reports.
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UNESCO’s Thesaurus lists “Electronic data processing” as an entry term under “Data processing.” It defines data processing as the systematic handling, manipulation, and computation of data, always involving computers. UNESCO also cautions that this concept should not be confused with “information processing.” UNESCO Thesaurus: Data processing
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How an EDP process works
The sequence varies with the purpose, but it commonly includes these stages:
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- Input: Data is collected or entered, such as transaction details or employee records.
- Organization and preparation: The data is arranged or checked so it can be handled by the system.
- Processing: The computer performs the required operations, which may include updating records, sorting, or calculating.
- Storage or output: The results are saved or presented, for example as an updated record, bill, or report.
Not every EDP task uses every stage in the same way. The operations are determined by what the data is meant to accomplish.
EDP compared with related terms
Electronic data processing and data processing
Data processing is the broader activity of performing operations on data to achieve a result. The term EDP emphasizes that electronic devices, especially computers, perform much of that work. A 1974 excerpt from ISO 2382-1 describes data processing as “Data processing largely performed by electronic devices.” The wording is useful as historical terminology, but the available copy is a secondary-hosted transcription, not a current compliance authority. ISO 2382-1:1974 excerpt
Electronic data processing and information processing
The terms are related, but they should not automatically be treated as synonyms. UNESCO’s terminology distinguishes its data-processing concept from information processing; in a particular document, interpret the wording in context.
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Manual processing relies on people carrying out procedures themselves. EDP uses electronic equipment to perform data operations. The historical distinction is about who or what performs the work; it does not establish a universal speed or accuracy advantage for every task.
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What an EDP system means
In business or historical writing, an “EDP system” usually means the computer equipment and procedures used together to process data, rather than one isolated calculation. Older documents may use the label more often than current writing, which commonly says data processing, computer processing, or information systems work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the term appears in older writing
“Electronic” or “automatic” helped distinguish computer-based work from manual clerical processing when electronic data handling was not yet routine. The Computer History Museum’s 1962 glossary records EDP as an abbreviation for Electronic Data Processing. In contemporary usage, the underlying work is commonplace, so writers often describe the activity without the EDP label. Computer History Museum: 1962 glossary
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For a legacy document, read EDP according to its period and context: it generally points to computer-based handling of data, but the exact equipment and procedures depend on the document. For plain-language explanations of the term and everyday examples, see Cambridge Dictionary and TechTarget’s data-processing overview.
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