A parameter is a variable that helps define a system or set the conditions for a function or process. In mathematics and programming, parameters are used to pass information into functions, allowing them to operate with different values. For example, in a function that calculates the area of a rectangle, the length and width are parameters. In statistics, parameters refer to measurable characteristics of a population, such as the mean or standard deviation. These parameters help summarize and describe the data, providing insights into the overall trends and patterns within a dataset. Understanding parameters is essential for effective analysis and decision-making in various fields, including science, engineering, and economics.