Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) is an essential step in data science that involves analyzing and summarizing the main characteristics of a dataset using statistical and visual techniques. It helps identify patterns, detect anomalies, test hypotheses, and validate assumptions, providing insights into the dataset's structure, relationships between variables, and potential problems like missing data or outliers. Key EDA techniques include data summarization, data visualization, data cleaning and preparation, feature engineering, and optional steps like dimensionality reduction and hypothesis testing. Tools such as Python, R, Tableau, and SAS are commonly used for conducting EDA, offering capabilities for data manipulation, visualization, and statistical analysis. While PubNub Illuminate is not a comprehensive EDA tool, it aids in EDA by providing real-time data visualization and monitoring, complementing other tools for a deeper analysis.