In computer science, garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) is the concept that flawed, or nonsense input data produces nonsense output or "garbage". In the UK the term sometimes used is rubbish in, rubbish out (RIRO).
The specific phrase is accredited by FOLDOC to the late Wilf Hey, who is also accredited by FOLDOC for work in developing RPG while working at IBM in 1965.
The principle also applies more generally to all analysis and logic, in that arguments are unsound if their premises are flawed.
