Data that can only take a small set of particular values, usually whole numbers. For instance, you cannot actually have 2.4 children. See also Data types.
Observations made by categorizing subjects so that there is a distinct interval between any two possible values (c.f. continuous data).
data resulting from a count of separate items or events, e.g. number of people.
Discrete data consists of a finite set of values.
Discrete data represents a class (for example, 1 for a small population, 2 for an average population, 3 for a large population). The classic cartographic representation corresponds to ranges of colors. To represent continuous data in ranges of colors, it has to be "quantified", i.e. made discrete, and this entails creating classes. The quantification process is a technical necessity for linking data to a filling module and it is also very important for interpreting a phenomenon (cf. cartography manual).
Categorical data such as types of vegetation, or class data such as speed zones. In geographical terms, discrete data can be represented by polygons. Sometimes referred to as integer data. In contrast, see continuous data.
Data measured at least at interval level, but only as whole numbers (integers). For example, household size, or number of siblings.
data consisting of distinct values (non-continuous) containing natural gaps, like patient IDs and years.
