Data analysis is a systematic approach to examining and interpreting data to extract meaningful insights. It encompasses various techniques that help summarize, explore, and visualize data, enabling researchers and analysts to identify patterns, trends, and relationships. The process typically involves data collection, cleaning, and transformation, followed by the application of statistical methods to derive conclusions. Data analysis plays a crucial role in decision-making across diverse fields, including business, healthcare, and scientific research. By leveraging tools like Python and libraries such as pandas and NumPy, analysts can efficiently handle complex data sets and uncover valuable information.