Which of the following best represents categorical data?

Categorical data refers to data that can be divided into distinct categories or groups based on qualitative properties. It is often used to classify things without any quantitative value associated with them. Brand names are a prime example of categorical data because they represent different categories of products that can be classified based on the name of the brand rather than any numerical measurement or value.

In contrast, options like time, counts, and prices represent quantitative data, which involves numerical values that can be measured and analyzed mathematically. Time can be measured in hours or minutes, counts refer to the number of occurrences of an event, and prices indicate a specific monetary value. These options do not fit the definition of categorical data, which is fundamentally about grouping items based on characteristics instead of numbers.