bins

Bins are containers used to hold, sort, or store items. In statistics and data analysis, a bin is a class interval or category used to group data points. A histogram displays the distribution of a dataset by counting observations that fall into each bin. Bin width and the number of bins influence interpretability; several rules exist to select them, such as Sturges' formula, the Scott rule, and the Freedman–Diaconis rule. Binning reduces continuous data to discrete categories and can affect bias and resolution.

In computing and data processing, a bin or bucket is a subdivision of a domain used for organization or processing. Hash tables use bins (buckets) to store entries with the same hash index. Sorting algorithms such as bucket sort distribute elements into bins before individually sorting each bin. Binning can also refer to grouping continuous or categorical values into discrete bins for analysis, feature engineering, or database queries.

In waste management, bins are containers for collecting refuse and recyclables. Municipal programs specify bin types, such as general waste, recyclable materials, organics, and hazardous waste. Bin design considers durability, capacity, ergonomics, and material separation to enable curbside collection and minimize contamination.

Other applications include storage and inventory control in warehouses, where items are placed in bins for tracking and retrieval, and bin packing problems in operations research seek to minimize the number of bins or containers used while packing items of various sizes.