Book excerpt: This book introduces nuclear data to the newcomer and provides a basic introduction to the role of nuclear data as the foundation of nuclear structure study. The material presented assumes no prior knowledge of the content or language used in communicating details of nuclear data. The approach builds on basic concepts: from gross properties of nuclei, through properties of quantum excited states, to simple model perspectives. The role of spectroscopy is thoroughly integrated, across all types of measurements, with many illustrations, to show how properties of nuclei are deduced. The basic technical methods needed for the deduction of nuclear properties from raw data are presented in animated figures, video tutorials, and accompanying PowerPointa presentations. The level of presentation provides access for students and researchers in applied areas that use nuclear data, e.g., medical applications and nuclear security. Overall, the book focuses on pedagogy and accessibility to the data aspect of nuclear physics. Part of IOP Series in Nuclear Spectroscopy and Nuclear Structure.