Descriptive statistics is a branch of statistics that helps summarize and describe the main features of a dataset. It provides simple numerical summaries, such as the mean, median, and mode, which give insights into the central tendency of the data. Additionally, it includes measures of variability, like range and standard deviation, which show how spread out the data points are. These statistics are essential for understanding data at a glance. For example, if a teacher wants to analyze students' test scores, descriptive statistics can help identify the average score and how much scores vary among students. This information aids in making informed decisions about teaching strategies.