Confidence Interval
A confidence interval is a statistical range that estimates the true value of a population parameter (e.g., mean, proportion) based on sample data, with a specified level of confidence (e.g., 95%). It provides a measure of uncertainty around an estimate, indicating where the parameter likely falls. This concept is fundamental in inferential statistics for making data-driven decisions and assessing reliability.
Developers should learn confidence intervals when working with data analysis, A/B testing, machine learning model evaluation, or any scenario involving statistical inference to quantify uncertainty. For example, in software development, it's used to estimate user engagement metrics, compare performance between versions, or validate experimental results, ensuring conclusions are robust and not due to random chance.