What does the term "discrete data" refer to?

Discrete data refers to data points that can only take on specific, separate values. This type of data is typically associated with countable items or events, where values are distinct and distinct gaps exist between them. For example, the number of students in a classroom or the number of cars in a parking lot are both discrete quantities since you can count them but cannot have fractions or decimals of these whole numbers.

Discrete data contrasts with continuous data, which can take any value within a given range and can include fractions or decimals. Understanding this distinction is essential in fields like statistics and data analysis, as it influences the methods used for data representation and analysis.