What are Factual Tables (on Factual.com)?
A. On the surface, Factual Tables are very much like relational database tables: they’re organized into rows and columns, and you can apply basic operations, such as filters and joins, to them. But Factual Tables differ from database tables in one very important way: Each cell in a Factual Table can incorporate multiple inputs entered by users or extracted from the web. These inputs are used to establish a consensus value for the cell. For example, a quick web search for “Napoleon height” returns two inconsistent answers: 5’2″ and 5’6½”. A Factual Table of the heights of historical figures would collect inputs on Napoleon’s height from various sources, and the value displayed would be determined by the consensus function you select. You could learn more by clicking into the fact history to see all of the input values, plus the sources cited and comments entered by other users. Having this information at hand makes it easier for you to determine which value is correct, and why. (By the
