Data Science Q&As Logo
Data Science Q&As Part of the Q&A Network
Real Questions. Clear Answers.
Ask any question about Data Science & Analytics here... and get an instant response.
Q&A Balloon Q&A Logo
Post this Question & Answer:

What are common techniques for handling missing data in large datasets?

Asked on Dec 14, 2025

Answer

Handling missing data is a critical step in data preprocessing, especially in large datasets, as it can significantly impact the performance of machine learning models. Common techniques include imputation, deletion, and using algorithms that support missing values natively.

Example Concept: Imputation is a popular technique where missing values are replaced with estimates. This can be done using mean, median, or mode for numerical data, or using more sophisticated methods like k-nearest neighbors (KNN) imputation, which uses the nearest data points to estimate missing values. Another approach is to use predictive models to fill in missing data by treating the missing value as a target variable and using the rest of the data to predict it. Alternatively, deletion methods such as listwise or pairwise deletion remove data points with missing values, though this may lead to loss of information. Some algorithms, like decision trees, can handle missing values internally without needing imputation.

Additional Comment:
  • Consider the proportion of missing data before choosing a technique; high missingness might require more sophisticated methods.
  • Evaluate the impact of imputation on model performance using cross-validation.
  • Use domain knowledge to guide the choice of imputation method, especially for categorical data.
  • Always document the method used for handling missing data for reproducibility.
✅ Answered with Data Science best practices.

← Back to All Questions

Q&A Network
Real Questions. Clear Answers.
Data Science
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Data Science!
Tailwind
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Tailwind!
AI Marketing
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Marketing!
SEO
Ask Questions / Get Answers about SEO!
AI Coding
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Coding!
Sound Design
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Sound Design!
Robotics
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Robotics!
Motion Graphics
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Motion Graphics!
3D Design
Ask Questions / Get Answers about 3D Design!
AI Writing
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Writing!
Animation
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Animation!
IoT
Ask Questions / Get Answers about IoT!
AI Business
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Business!
Quantum
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Quantum Computing!
Bootstrap
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Bootstrap!
Creative Writing
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Creative Writing!
AI Ethics
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Ethics!
AI Video
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Video!
UI/UX Design
Ask Questions / Get Answers about UI/UX Design!
Security
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Website Security!
Graphic Design
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Graphic Design!
Digital Burnout
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Digital Burnout!
AI Audio
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Audio!
AI Design
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Design!
Video Editing
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Video Editing!
JavaScript
Ask Questions / Get Answers about JavaScript!
Illustration
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Illustration!
DevOps
Ask Questions / Get Answers about DevOps!
MobileDev
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Mobile Developement!
AI Education
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Education!
CSS
Ask Questions / Get Answers about CSS!
Analytics
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Analytics!
Web Development
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Web Development!
Web Languages
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Web Languages!
AI
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI!
Podcasting
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Podcasting!
Web Hosting
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Hosting!
Chatbots
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Chatbots!
Film Production
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Film Production!
VR & AR
Ask Questions / Get Answers about VR & AR!
Monetization
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Ad & Monetization!
Performance
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Web Vitals!
WordPress
Ask Questions / Get Answers about WordPress!
Networking
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Networking!
HTML
Ask Questions / Get Answers about HTML!
AI Images
Ask Questions / Get Answers about AI Images!
Social Media Psychology
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Social Media Psychology!
Cybersecurity
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Cybersecurity!
Photography
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Photography!
Cloud Computing
Ask Questions / Get Answers about Cloud Computing!