ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Record (computer science)

Remember when you were playing with your blocks and you built a tall tower? Each block had a different color and shape, right? Well, a record in computer science is like a block with information on it.

Computers use records to organize information in a way that they can understand. A record is made up of different pieces of information, just like your block tower had different colored and shaped blocks.

For example, imagine a record about a pet cat named Fluffy. The record might have information like her name, age, breed, and color. Each piece of information is stored separately, just like each block in your tower.

The computer can use this record to help find information quickly, like if you wanted to know Fluffy's age. It's like picking up the block with the number "5" on it to find out how tall your tower is.

Records are used in lots of different ways, like to track inventory in a store or keep medical records at a hospital. They help keep information organized and easy to access, just like your block tower.