Discrete data are data that can only assume specific values that are countable and distinct. For example, the number of books, the number of heads in a coin toss, or the number of patients in a hospital are discrete data. Discrete data cannot have fractional or decimal values, and there are clear spaces between the possible values12.
Continuous data are data that can assume any value within a range and can be meaningfully divided into smaller parts. For example, the weight, height, length, time, or temperature are continuous data. Continuous data can have fractional or decimal values, and there are infinite numbers of possible values between any two points12.