LOESS

LOESS (Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing) is a method used in statistics to understand the relationship between two variables. Instead of fitting a single line to the entire dataset, LOESS looks at small neighborhoods around each data point and fits simple models locally. This creates a smooth curve that follows the data’s patterns more closely, especially when relationships are complex or nonlinear. Think of it as drawing a flexible, smooth line that adapts to the data's shape, providing a clearer picture of the trend without assuming a strict form for the entire dataset.