Descriptive analytics techniques are used to uncover patterns and relationships in data. They are one of the four key types of business analytics, along with predictive, prescriptive, and diagnostic. Descriptive analytics provide a way to summarize and explore data, allowing businesses to gain insights into the past and present state of their operations. These insights can help inform decisions on everything from product design to marketing tactics. Descriptive analytics enable businesses to understand trends, detect outliers, and create powerful visuals—from simple graphs to complex dashboards—to help explain their data. Ultimately, descriptive analytics help businesses identify opportunities for improvement and strategic growth.