The number 12 is a natural number that follows 11 and precedes 13. It is often used in various counting systems and is significant in many cultures and contexts. For example, there are 12 months in a year, and a dozen refers to a group of 12 items. In mathematics, 12 is considered a composite number, as it has divisors other than 1 and itself, specifically 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Additionally, it is the product of the first three prime numbers: 2, 3, and 2. The number 12 also appears in various fields, such as music, where there are 12 notes in an octave.