The median is the center-most value in a data set, and is one of three key metrics used to analyze data, alongside the mean and mode. The median can sometimes give a better view of data, since its accuracy is not as heavily affected by outliers, data points far greater or smaller than the rest of the set, as the mean. The median also helps give some context to the mean: if the median is far from the mean, then it suggests the mean may not be an accurate representation of the data.