Discrete data refers to information that can only take specific, distinct values. This type of data is often counted rather than measured, meaning it consists of whole numbers. Examples include the number of students in a classroom, the number of cars in a parking lot, or the number of pets owned by a family. Discrete data cannot include fractions or decimals. In contrast to continuous data, which can take any value within a range, discrete data is limited to separate values. It is commonly used in statistics and research to analyze categorical information, such as the number of votes received by each candidate in an election or the number of goals scored by a team in a sports match.