Categorical data refers to information that can be divided into distinct groups or categories. This type of data is often qualitative, meaning it describes characteristics or qualities rather than numerical values. Examples include gender, color, and type of pet. Each category represents a different group, making it easy to classify and analyze. In statistical analysis, categorical data can be further divided into two types: nominal and ordinal. Nominal data has no specific order, such as fruit types like apples and oranges, while ordinal data has a clear ranking, such as education levels like high school, bachelor's, and master's degrees.