What is a histogram?

A histogram is best defined as a graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data. It uses bars to represent the frequency of data points within specified intervals or "bins." The height of each bar indicates the number of data points that fall within that range, thus providing a visual interpretation of how the values are distributed across different intervals.

This type of graph is particularly useful for identifying patterns such as central tendencies, variability, and the overall shape of the data distribution, whether it may be normal, skewed, or contain outliers. Since histograms deal specifically with numerical data, they help in understanding the relationships and distribution characteristics of continuous variables in various statistical analyses.