dummies

"Dummies" are placeholder values used in data analysis or models to represent missing or unknown information. They are often created by converting categorical variables—like colors or brands—into a series of binary indicators (0s and 1s). For example, if you have a variable "Color" with values "Red," "Blue," and "Green," dummy variables would turn these into separate columns: “Red” (1 if Red, else 0), “Blue” (1 if Blue, else 0), and “Green” (1 if Green, else 0). This process simplifies handling categorical data in statistical models, making it easier to analyze and interpret relationships.