garbage in, garbage out
GAR-bij IN GAR-bij OWT
ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ ɪn ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ aʊtListen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
the principle that flawed, incorrect, or low-quality input data will produce flawed, unreliable output, regardless of the sophistication of the processing system; a foundational maxim of data engineering, machine learning, and computer science; abbreviated GIGO; underscores why data quality, validation, and governance are paramount before building analytical systems
History and origin
English computing — first used in the early 1950s and 1960s in the context of early computers; popularized by IBM programmers who noted that computers would produce nonsensical output from nonsensical input
Examples
- The machine learning model's predictions were terrible — garbage in, garbage out, because the training data had never been cleaned.
- Before building the dashboard, the analyst spent three weeks on data quality. Garbage in, garbage out.
Synonyms: GIGO, quality in, quality out
Pronunciation tips
Almost universally abbreviated GIGO in data and tech contexts. It applies equally to manual processes, machine learning models, and statistical analyses.
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