A data indication method includes: transmitting a buffer status report to a network side, the buffer status report containing at least one piece of buffer size information, the buffer size information indicating a buffer size to which a logical channel or a logical channel group corresponds; or transmitting a buffer status report of a variable length to a network side; wherein, the buffer status report of a variable length contains buffer size information on a logical channel group with a buffer size being greater than zero when the buffer status report is triggered or before logical channel data are multiplexed, or contains buffer size information on a logical channel group with a buffer size being greater than zero before logical channel data are multiplexed and being equal to zero after the logical channel data are multiplexed.