What Is Data In Use?
Whatis, Wednesday, July 30th, 2025
Data in use is data that is currently being updated, processed, erased, accessed or read by a system, application, user or device. This type of data is not being passively stored, but is instead actively moving through parts of an IT infrastructure.
In general, data in use includes any data that is being processed, accessed or read. Examples include data that is stored in or processed by the following:
- RAM.
- Databases.
- Processors, i.e., CPUs.
As an example, when a user requests access to their transaction history or makes a transaction on a banking website or application, the transaction data is considered data in use. Similarly, authorizing user logon input is an example of data in use.
Data that is retrieved from a database at an application's request is also data in use. The application uses this data in specific ways to allow users to meet defined objectives.