histogram

The distribution of scores of 58 students on a 50-word spelling test displayed using a histogramA histogram displaying the distribution of scores from 58 students on a 50-word spelling test, with most students scoring between 25 and 39, and fewer students at the lowest and highest score ranges.

histogram, graphical representation of a frequency distribution—the number of times each value occurs in a dataset—used to show how numerical data are distributed across a range of values. The length of the vertical or horizontal bars in a histogram indicates quantities. Along with the pie chart, the histogram is the most common format for representing statistical data. Its advantage is that it not only clearly shows the largest and smallest categories but gives an immediate impression of the distribution of the data.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Shabnam Dohutia.
Citation Information
Article Title: histogram
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 29 October 2026
Access Date: November 14, 2026