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Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) is a cornerstone concept in statistics and data analysis, popularized by American statistician John W. Tukey. Tukey introduced the term and the associated approach in his influential book of the same name, published in 1977.

EDA emphasizes the initial exploration and examination of data sets to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships. Rather than relying solely on formal statistical methods, Tukey advocated for a more informal and visual approach to data analysis. The book introduced various graphical techniques, including the box plot, stem-and-leaf displays, and histograms, which have since become essential tools in the field of statistics.

Tukey's EDA approach encourages analysts to visually inspect and understand the data before applying more complex statistical models. By using exploratory techniques, analysts can gain insights, identify outliers, and formulate hypotheses for further investigation.