What does EDA stand for in the context of data analysis?

EDA stands for Exploratory Data Analysis. This is a data analysis approach that involves the application of diverse techniques to gain insights about a dataset. Unlike classical methods, which usually begin with a preconceived hypothesis, EDA allows the data to speak for itself. It often involves summarizing the data, visualizing these summaries and looking for patterns, unusual observations, or inconsistencies that could inspire model building.