--- title: "The True Difference Between Discrete and Continuous data" description: "Here is the true difference between discrete and continuous data" url: https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/ date: 2022-10-24 modified: 2026-10-10 author: "Srini" image: https://i0.wp.com/srinimf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pexels-photo-5475763.jpeg?fit=1880%2C1253&ssl=1 categories: ["Python"] tags: ["Discrete Vs Continuous data"] type: post lang: en --- # The True Difference Between Discrete and Continuous data Here is the real [difference between](https://srinimf.com/2018/11/27/data-scientist-vs-machine-learning-engineer-real-responsibilities/) discrete and continuous data. Data engineers often get data from multiple sources for analysis. Understanding whether data is discrete or continuous helps them provide solid insights. Related[Understanding The Background Of Data Modelling Cordinality.](https://srinimf.com/2015/11/29/understanding-the-background-of-data-modelling-cordinality/) ![](https://i0.wp.com/srinimf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pexels-photo-6615284.jpeg?resize=1880%2C1253&ssl=1)*Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com* **Table of contents** 1. [What’s the difference? Discrete Vs. Continuous data](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/#what-s-the-difference-discrete-vs-continuous-data) 1. [Discrete data](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/#discrete-data) 1. [The best example of discrete data](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/#the-best-example-of-discrete-data) 2. [Continuous data](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/#continuous-data) 1. [The best example of continuous data](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/#the-best-example-of-continuous-data) ## **What’s the difference? Discrete Vs. Continuous data** Here are the differences between these two data. Here’s how **data as a service works **[omgblog.uk] ### **Discrete data** What is discrete data? Maybe you might not hear about it. In data science, it’s usual. Discrete data is a set of values that you can count. Check out various roles in data analysis. #### **The best example of discrete data** - For instance, Discrete data can “reasonably” fit in a drop-down [list of](https://srinimf.com/2010/07/24/db2-indexes/) values. So a list of 500 values is discrete since the ***count is known and fixed.*** - So the data you can count is discrete, and the opposite is not discrete. It’s a simple tip to remember the concept. Also, the discrete data are limited. That means countable. Advertisements ### **Continuous data** The continuous data is measured. The temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure are considered continuous data. Currency is also treated as continuous, even though there is a measurable difference between two consecutive values. The smallest unit of currency for U.S. currency is one penny, which is 1/100th of a dollar (accounting-based measurements use the “mil,” which is 1/1,000th of a dollar). #### **The best example of continuous data** The best example of continuous data is Continuous data types can have subtle differences. For example, someone who is 200 centimeters tall is twice as tall as someone who is 100 centimeters tall; the same is true for 100 kilograms versus 50 kilograms. However, **the temperature is different: **80 degrees Fahrenheit is not twice as hot as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.[**You can see industry temperatures**] For instance, values for stock prices are discrete: they must differ by at least a penny (or some other minimal unit of currency), which is to say, it’s meaningless to say that the stock price changes by one millionth of a penny. However, **since there are “so many” possible stock values**, it’s treated as a continuous variable. The same comments apply to car mileage, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, etc. Related - [How to Write Logic in Python Equals to Linux](https://srinimf.com/2022/11/07/python-program-equal-to-linux-tail-1-command/)DateNovember 7, 2022 - [The True Difference Between ML Engineer and Data Scientist](https://srinimf.com/2018/11/27/data-scientist-vs-machine-learning-engineer-real-responsibilities/)DateNovember 27, 2018 - [6 Top Python Data Types: How to Understand Now](https://srinimf.com/2022/12/19/how-to-understand-data-types-in-python-quickly/)DateDecember 19, 2022 References - [Python and data analytics](https://www.amazon.in/PYTHON-DATA-ANALYTICS-POCKET-PRIMER-ebook/dp/B091B9QSGB?tag=srinimf-21) ### Share this: - - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) - [![](https://i0.wp.com/assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsrinimf.com%2F2022%2F10%2F24%2Fthe-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fi0.wp.com%2Fsrinimf.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2Fpexels-photo-5475763.jpeg%3Ffit%3D1200%252C800%26ssl%3D1&description=The%20True%20Difference%20Between%20Discrete%20and%20Continuous%20data) - - [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share) - [Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) - [More](#) - - [Print (Opens in new window) Print](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/?share=print) - [Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/?share=reddit) - [Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram](https://srinimf.com/2022/10/24/the-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data/?share=telegram) - [Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email](mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20The%20True%20Difference%20Between%20Discrete%20and%20Continuous%20data&body=https%3A%2F%2Fsrinimf.com%2F2022%2F10%2F24%2Fthe-exclusive-differences-between-discrete-and-continuous-data%2F&share=email) - ### Like this: Like Loading…