A discrete random variable is a type of variable that can take on a countable number of distinct values. These values often represent outcomes of a random process, such as the number of heads when flipping a coin multiple times or the number of students in a classroom. Each possible value has a specific probability associated with it, which helps in understanding the likelihood of different outcomes. In contrast to continuous random variables, which can take on any value within a range, discrete random variables are limited to specific, separate values. Common examples include the roll of a die, the number of cars in a parking lot, or the number of goals scored in a soccer match. Understanding discrete random variables is essential in fields like statistics and probability theory.