What is the difference between integration and interoperability?

The distinction lies in understanding how integration and interoperability function within systems. Integration refers to the process of combining different systems or applications to work cohesively, essentially ensuring that these systems can share data and work together effectively. However, this can occur without any context behind the data; the focus is on the technical connection.

On the other hand, interoperability goes a step further by ensuring that data exchanged between systems is not only shared but also understood. It provides the necessary context for the data, allowing different systems to interpret the information in the same way. This is essential in many industries, including healthcare, where data needs to be actionable and meaningful.

By highlighting that integration can happen without context and that interoperability provides that crucial context, the correct answer accurately captures the essence of how these two concepts operate and their relevance in data sharing and communication across systems.