Epistemic status of digital data in modern scientific research

This paper analyses in which way digital data becomes an integral part of modern scientific research. To this end, we consider not only the definition, types and volume of digital data, but the notion of "data deluge" and "metadata deluge" derived from the digital data, their influence on the structure of scientific knowledge and the products of scientific activity. As an illustration, in this article there are examples of the use of digital data in research projects. Particular attention is being paid to the "fourth paradigm" and its practical implementation in the form of data-centric models: X-informatics, data oriented science, data driver science, petascale science. As well as research programs: "Data intensive Science" (Europe) and "Computational and DataEnabled Science and Engineering" (USA).