Import and export of data

Alright kiddo, imagine that you have a big toy box with lots of different toys and you want to share some of them with your friends. This is kind of like what happens when people import and export data.

When we "import" data, we are taking information that exists outside of our toy box (like on a computer or the internet) and bringing it into our toy box. It's like asking your parents to go buy you a new toy and then adding it to your collection. This can happen in lots of different ways, like downloading a song from the internet or transferring pictures from a camera onto a computer.

On the other hand, when we "export" data, we are taking information that exists inside our toy box and sharing it with others outside of our toy box. It's like picking out a toy you don't play with very often and giving it to your friend so they can play with it instead. This can happen in lots of different ways too, like sending an email with an attached file or uploading pictures to a social media site.

Just like you might need your parents' help to buy new toys or give old ones away, people often use special tools or programs to import and export data. These tools know how to move information from one place to another, so we can share and use information in lots of different ways!