Crosstabs, short for cross-tabulations, are a statistical tool used to analyze the relationship between two or more categorical variables. They display data in a matrix format, allowing researchers to see how different groups compare across various categories. For example, a crosstab might show the relationship between age groups and product preferences. By organizing data this way, crosstabs help identify patterns and trends that might not be obvious in a simple list of numbers. They are commonly used in fields like market research and social science to summarize survey results and make informed decisions based on the findings.