(also GIGO, junk in, junk out)
Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) is a principle in computer science and IT that refers to the idea that input quality is crucial for output quality. Entering incomplete or inaccurate data into the system will create incomplete or incorrect results. Garbage in, garbage out is particularly relevant if an organization makes decisions based on the output produced by the program or system. If the decision relies on false assumptions, the system won’t solve the problem effectively. Avoiding issues associated with garbage in, garbage out implies ensuring the data is accurate, complete, and consistent before inputting it into a computer program or system. For example, organizations can validate data at the point of input, use data cleansing and transformation techniques to clean up data or implement data quality monitoring and management processes to ensure ongoing data quality.