Linear regression is a statistical method used to model the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables by fitting a linear equation to the observed data. It is commonly used in fields such as economics, finance, and social sciences to analyze and predict trends or patterns in data. The goal of linear regression is to find the best-fitting line that minimizes the difference between the observed values and the predicted values. This method is a foundational technique in statistical analysis and plays a crucial role in understanding and interpreting data.