What does 'data validation' ensure in data entry?

Data validation is a critical process in data entry that ensures the information entered into a system meets predefined standards of accuracy, consistency, and quality. By validating data, organizations can reduce errors, improve data integrity, and ensure that the information used for decision-making is reliable. This process involves checking for various criteria such as data types (e.g., numbers, text), ranges (e.g., age must be between 0 and 120), formats (e.g., email addresses must follow a specific pattern), and completeness (e.g., mandatory fields must be filled).

In contrast, the other options do not align with the purpose of data validation. For example, copying data from other sources without verification does not ensure accuracy or consistency and could lead to significant errors. Ensuring equal access to information has no direct relation to the process of validating data's correctness and relevance; it focuses more on data availability rather than quality. Lastly, converting data to a multimedia format pertains to data handling rather than validation, which is focused on checking the validity of the information itself. Thus, the choice that accurately describes the role of data validation is that it ensures the data entered meets specific criteria for accuracy and consistency.