Categorical variable

A categorical variable is a type of variable used to represent data that can be divided into distinct groups or categories. These categories are usually labels or names, such as colors (red, blue, green), types of animals (dog, cat, bird), or genres of movies (comedy, drama, horror). Unlike numbers that measure quantity, categorical variables help identify and classify items based on shared characteristics. They are useful in analysis for understanding patterns and differences between groups, but do not have a natural order or numerical value associated with them.