Final answer:
Self-describing data contains information about its structure and format within the data itself, making it easier to handle and manipulate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-describing data refers to data that contains information about its structure or format within the data itself. It means that the data includes metadata or descriptors that define how the data is organized and can be interpreted. This helps in understanding and processing the data correctly.
For example, in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), a self-describing data format commonly used in web development, each data element contains key-value pairs that provide information about the data, such as the data type or meaning of the values.
Using self-describing data makes it easier to handle and manipulate data, as the structure and interpretation details are embedded within the data itself.