a two dimensional plot featuring a box capped by the 1st and 3rd quartiles, spliced by the median line, and with "whiskers" extending to min and max values
![](/2018/content/images/2018/08/Screen-Shot-2018-08-29-at-8.37.02-PM.png)
alternatively, if outliers are present (1.5 x IQR), the whiskers may span the least and greatest non outlier range, with outliers as individually denoted dots
![](/2018/content/images/2018/09/nmeth.2813-F1.jpg)
advantages: distills large data to 5 points, simple check of symmetry, indicates outliers
disadvantages: less distribution resolution within quartiles
![](/2018/content/images/2018/08/image-18.png)
![](/2018/content/images/2018/08/image-19.png)
![](/2018/content/images/2018/09/ch-01-anderson-boxplots-cognitive.png)