Gartner, a research institute of "Big data", gives such a definition. "Big data" requires new processing mode to have stronger decision-making power, insight and process optimization ability to adapt to massive, high growth rate and diversified information assets.

The definition given by McKinsey Global Research Institute is: a data set that is large enough to exceed the capabilities of traditional database software tools in terms of acquisition, storage, management and analysis. It has four characteristics: massive data scale, rapid data flow, diverse data types and low value density.