Define data mining.

Data mining is specifically defined as the process of discovering patterns and knowledge from large amounts of data. This involves using a variety of techniques, including statistical analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, to analyze data sets in order to extract meaningful information and reveal trends that may not be easily noticeable.

The focus of data mining is on uncovering hidden patterns and insights that can be used for decision-making or predictive modeling, making it distinct from merely gathering data or organizing it into databases. While gathering data and organizing it are important preliminary steps, they do not capture the analytic nature of data mining that aims to derive valuable knowledge from that data. Additionally, securing data falls into a different domain concerned with data protection rather than mining for insights.