What is the primary goal of data mining?

The primary goal of data mining is to discover patterns and relationships in large datasets. This process involves analyzing vast amounts of data to uncover hidden trends, correlations, and insights that can inform decision-making. Through various techniques such as clustering, classification, regression, and association rule mining, data mining allows analysts to identify significant patterns that may not be apparent through simple observation.

By focusing on pattern discovery, organizations can utilize data mining to enhance their understanding of customer behavior, optimize processes, and improve predictive modeling. This capability is essential for making data-driven decisions that can lead to competitive advantages and operational efficiencies in various domains.

Other options mention practices related to data handling and reporting, but they do not capture the essence of data mining, which is fundamentally about understanding and extracting meaningful information from data.