LOESS (Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing)

LOESS (Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing) is a statistical method used to create a smooth line through a scatterplot of data points. It works by examining small neighborhoods around each point and fitting simple models to those subsets, then combining these local fits to produce a smooth curve. This approach helps reveal the underlying trend in data that might be noisy or nonlinear. Essentially, LOESS adapts to the shape of the data, providing a clear, intuitive visualization of how one variable changes relative to another without assuming a specific overall pattern.