Glossary

Definitions of common terms found on our website and within our outputs.


App

Software application running in the web browser (web app) which allow users to easily interact with data and obtain information and insight from it without requiring specialist skills or tools.


Charticle

A small, focussed article on a particular subject containing a single data visualisation in the form of a chart or map.


Collection

Multiple outputs, often of various types (e.g. apps, reports, charticles etc.), all based around a common theme or topic.


GM (geographical area)

Greater Manchester. A region located within the North-West of England comprising of the following 10 Local Authorities:

You can view and download the boundary files for the 10 Local Authorities within Greater Manchester from our spatial_data GitHub repository.


GMCA

Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Visit the GMCA website for more details. You can view and download the boundary files for Greater Manchester Combined Authority from our spatial_data GitHub repository.


Graphic

A static data visualisation, i.e. not having any interactive elements.


Household (census definition)

A household is:

A household must have at least one usual resident at the address. A group of short-term residents living together or a group of visitors staying at an address is not classified as a household.


Localities

Trafford-specific sub-borough geographic areas. Each locality comprises a number of wards, allowing for programmes of work to be tailored to the needs of particular areas. There are 4 localities in Trafford, named Central, North, South and West.


LSOA

Lower-layer Super Output Area. Statistically comparable geographies defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), initially following the census in 2001 and revised following each successive census. They are made up of approximately 4 or 5 Output Areas, comprising between 400 and 1,200 households and between 1,000 and 3,000 residents. There are 139 LSOAs in Trafford following the 2021 Census.

You can view and download the LSOA boundary files within Trafford and Greater Manchester from our spatial_data GitHub repository.


MSOA

Middle-layer Super Output Area. Statistically comparable geographies defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), initially following the census in 2001 and revised following each successive census. They are made up of approximately 4 or 5 Lower-layer Super Output Areas, comprising between 2,000 and 6,000 households and between 5,000 and 15,000 residents. There are 28 MSOAs in Trafford following the 2021 Census.

You can view and download the MSOA boundary files within Trafford and Greater Manchester from our spatial_data GitHub repository.


OA

Output Area. Statistically comparable geographies defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), initially following the census in 2001 and revised following each successive census. They are the lowest level of statistical geography, comprising between 40 and 250 households and between 100 and 625 residents. There are 738 OAs in Trafford following the 2021 Census.

You can view and download the OA boundary files within Trafford and Greater Manchester from our spatial_data GitHub repository.


Open Data

Data/datasets that are licensed under a highly permissable free licence, allowing them to be accessed, reused, modified and shared without the usual restrictions associated with work subject to copyright protections. Open data improves transparency and trust and often is released with the goal of contributing to increased knowledge and understanding of a subject area. Initial data used to create our outputs are obtained from authoratitive sources, such as UK central government departments, and the resultant data are published by us under the Open Government Licence V3.


ONS

Office for National Statistics. The UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK. Visit the ONS website for more details.


Report

In-depth and detailed analysis of a particular subject including several visualisations of the data, often with interactive elements.


Usual resident (census definition)

A usual resident is anyone who on Census Day (12 March 2021) was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more, or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months.


Ward

Sub-national electoral district. Trafford is split into 21 wards, each represented by 3 councillors elected by the residents in local elections.