What is meant by "data integrity"?

Data integrity refers to the accuracy and consistency of stored data over its entire lifecycle. It ensures that the data remains unaltered and reliable, meaning that it represents the same values throughout its use. This concept is critical for various applications, such as databases, where maintaining the quality and reliability of data is essential for proper functioning and decision-making.

When we talk about data integrity, we are often focused on preventing unauthorized access or modifications, and ensuring that data is recorded correctly and remains intact during operations like transfer, storage, and retrieval. This is why maintaining high data integrity is vital in systems where data accuracy directly impacts results, such as in financial systems, healthcare records, and customer databases.

Other options relate to different aspects of data and technology. For instance, maximum speed for data transmission pertains to network performance, security measures focus on protecting data from unauthorized access, and available storage space refers to the capacity of storage systems. None of these concepts address the fundamental idea of maintaining accuracy and consistency in stored data, which is at the core of data integrity.