Rating

Rating is the process of assigning a value or judgment to something, usually on a defined scale, to express its quality, performance, or suitability. Ratings summarize assessments from experts, users, or automated metrics and are often used to inform decision making, communicate standards, or compare options. A rating is typically distinct from a ranking, which orders items from best to worst; a rating assigns a level, while a ranking places items in a relative order.

Rating systems vary by domain. Consumer ratings commonly use numerical scores or star icons (for example 1–5 or 0–10) to reflect user satisfaction. Credit ratings issued by agencies such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch assess the creditworthiness of issuers and debt instruments, using letter grades from AAA down to D. Content ratings classify media by suitability for audiences (G, PG, PG-13, R, etc.). Professional or academic settings use performance ratings and appraisals to evaluate skills or outcomes. Ratings can be ordinal, indicating order, or interval/ratio scales that imply equal intervals between steps.

Rating processes involve data collection, standardization, and aggregation. Good practice includes clear criteria, calibration across raters, and transparency about limitations. Ratings can influence pricing, access to markets, or consumer choice, but they are subject to biases, manipulation, and quality variation. Users should consider the methodology, source credibility, and potential conflicts of interest when interpreting ratings.