Categorical variable
A categorical variable is a type of variable that can take on one of a limited number of distinct categories or groups
A categorical variable is a type of variable that can take on one of a limited number of distinct categories or groups. It is often used to represent non-numerical data or information that can be classified into different classes or levels.
There are two main types of categorical variables:
1. Nominal variables: These variables do not have any inherent order or ranking. They simply classify data into different categories. For example, gender (male or female), eye color (blue, green, brown), or favorite sports (football, basketball, tennis).
2. Ordinal variables: These variables have categories that can be ranked or ordered in some way. Although the exact differences between the categories may not be quantifiable, there is a logical order. For example, educational level (elementary, high school, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) or income level (low, medium, high).
Categorical variables are typically represented as labels or words rather than numerical values. They are often used in statistical analysis, especially in data visualization and descriptive statistics, to summarize and compare data across different categories or groups.
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