A percentile is a statistical measure that indicates the relative standing of a value within a dataset. It shows the percentage of data points that fall below a specific value. For example, if a student scores in the 75th percentile on a test, it means they performed better than 75% of the other students who took the same test. Percentiles are commonly used in various fields, including education, health, and finance. They help to compare individual performance against a larger group. For instance, in standardized testing, percentiles can provide insight into how a student's score compares to their peers.