The interquartile range (IQR) is a measure of statistical dispersion, representing the difference between the 75th percentile (Q3) and the 25th percentile (Q1) of a dataset. It describes the spread of the middle 50% of the data. For example, if a dataset’s IQR is 10, it signifies that the middle half of the data values are contained within a range of 10 units.
Calculating the IQR is a valuable tool for identifying data variability and outliers. It provides a robust measure of spread, less sensitive to extreme values than the range. The IQR is frequently employed in statistical analysis, data science, and quality control to assess the consistency and distribution of data. Its use dates back to early statistical methods for descriptive analysis, proving its continued relevance in modern data analysis practices.