What is data validation used for in data entry?

Data validation plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and quality of data entered into a system. It serves to check if the data being input is not only of the correct type—such as ensuring that numerical fields contain numeric values, or that date fields contain valid dates—but also that the data is sensible and meets specific criteria. For instance, validation might ensure that an age entry is within a reasonable range or that an email address adheres to a standard format. This process prevents errors and inconsistencies, enabling more reliable data analysis and processing.

While other options present important aspects of data management, they do not specifically address the primary function of data validation in the context of data entry. Storing data correctly pertains to data management overall, compiling statistical data relates to data analysis, and encryption concerns the security of sensitive information. Therefore, the focus on checking data types and their sensibility highlights the essential purpose of data validation in maintaining high-quality input.