npm package: @stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal
Description: Normal distribution.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.3.1

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<details>
  <summary>
    About stdlib...
  </summary>
  <p>We believe in a future in which the web is a preferred environment for numerical computation. To help realize this future, we've built stdlib. stdlib is a standard library, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computation, written in JavaScript (and C) for execution in browsers and in Node.js.</p>
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# Normal

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Normal distribution.

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var normal = require( '@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal' );
```

#### normal

Normal distribution.

```javascript
var dist = normal;
// returns {...}
```

The namespace contains the following distribution functions:

<!-- <toc pattern="*+(cdf|pdf|mgf|quantile)*"> -->

<div class="namespace-toc">

-   <span class="signature">[`cdf( x, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/cdf]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution cumulative distribution function.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`logcdf( x, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/logcdf]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">evaluate the natural logarithm of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) for a normal distribution.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`logpdf( x, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/logpdf]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">evaluate the natural logarithm of the probability density function (PDF) for a normal distribution.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`mgf( t, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/mgf]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution moment-generating function (MGF).</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`pdf( x, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/pdf]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution probability density function (PDF).</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`quantile( p, mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/quantile]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution quantile function.</span>

</div>

<!-- </toc> -->

The namespace contains the following functions for calculating distribution properties:

<!-- <toc pattern="*+(entropy|kurtosis|mean|median|mode|skewness|stdev|variance)*"> -->

<div class="namespace-toc">

-   <span class="signature">[`entropy( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/entropy]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution differential entropy.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`kurtosis( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/kurtosis]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution excess kurtosis.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`mean( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/mean]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution expected value.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`median( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/median]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution median.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`mode( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/mode]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution mode.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`skewness( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/skewness]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution skewness.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`stdev( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/stdev]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution standard deviation.</span>
-   <span class="signature">[`variance( mu, sigma )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/variance]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution variance.</span>

</div>

<!-- </toc> -->

The namespace contains a constructor function for creating a [normal][normal-distribution] distribution object.

<!-- <toc pattern="*ctor*"> -->

<div class="namespace-toc">

-   <span class="signature">[`Normal( [mu, sigma] )`][@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/ctor]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">normal distribution constructor.</span>

</div>

<!-- </toc> -->

```javascript
var Normal = require( '@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal' ).Normal;

var dist = new Normal( 2.0, 4.0 );

var y = dist.pdf( 2.0 );
// returns ~0.1
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- TODO: better examples -->

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var normal = require( '@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal' );

/*
A bakery is analyzing cake baking times to ensure consistency and better schedule their baking processes.

The Central Limit Theorem (CLT) states that the average baking times from many batches will follow a normal distribution if there are enough batches (typically n > 30).

Assuming each record represents the average baking time per batch and the bakery has collected the following data:

-      Mean baking time (μ/mu): 20 minutes.
-      Standard deviation in baking time (σ/sigma): 3 minutes.

We can model the average bake times using a normal distribution with μ (mu) = 20.0 minutes and σ = 3.0 minutes.
*/

var mu = 20.0;
var sigma = 3.0;

var normalDist = new normal.Normal( mu, sigma );

// Output the standard deviation of the baking times:
console.log( normalDist.sigma );
// => 3.0

// Adjust distribution parameters
normalDist.sigma = 4.0;

// Adjusted standard deviation to reflect different variance scenario:
console.log( normalDist.sigma );
// => 4.0

// Excess kurtosis of a normal distribution (measure of "tailedness"):
console.log( normalDist.kurtosis );
// => 0.0

// Median baking time:
console.log( normalDist.median );
// => 20.0

// Variance of the baking times after adjusting sigma:
console.log( normalDist.variance );
// => 16.0

// Probability density function at the mean baking time:
console.log( normal.pdf( 20.0, mu, sigma ) );
// => ~0.133

// Cumulative distribution function at the mean (portion of times ≤ 20 minutes):
console.log( normal.cdf( 20.0, mu, sigma ) );
// => ~0.5

// 50th percentile (median) of the baking times:
console.log( normal.quantile( 0.5, mu, sigma ) );
// => 20.0

// Moment-generating function value at 0.5 (used in probability theory):
console.log( normal.mgf( 0.5, mu, sigma ) );
// => ~67846.291

// Entropy of the normal distribution (measure of uncertainty):
console.log( normal.entropy( mu, sigma ) );
// => ~2.518

// Mean baking time:
console.log( normal.mean( mu, sigma ) );
// => 20.0

// Median baking time:
console.log( normal.median( mu, sigma ) );
// => 20.0

// Mode of the baking times (most frequent value):
console.log( normal.mode( mu, sigma ) );
// => 20.0

// Variance of the baking times:
console.log( normal.variance( mu, sigma ) );
// => 9.0

// Skewness of the distribution (symmetry measure):
console.log( normal.skewness( mu, sigma ) );
// => 0.0

var myquantile = normal.quantile.factory( 20.0, 3.0 );

// 20th percentile (value below which 20% baking times fall):
console.log( myquantile( 0.2 ) );
// => ~17.475

// 80th percentile (value below which 80% baking times fall):
console.log( myquantile( 0.8 ) );
// => ~22.525

var mylogpdf = normal.logpdf.factory( 20.0, 3.0 );

// Logarithm of the probability density function at the mean:
console.log( mylogpdf( 20.0 ) );
// => ~-2.018

// Logarithm of the probability density function at 15 minutes:
console.log( mylogpdf( 15.0 ) );
// => ~-3.406
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

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* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

<!-- /.stdlib -->

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[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/stats-base-dists-normal/main/LICENSE

[normal-distribution]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution

<!-- <toc-links> -->

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/ctor]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-ctor

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/entropy]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-entropy

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/kurtosis]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-kurtosis

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/mean]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-mean

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/median]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-median

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/mode]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-mode

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/skewness]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-skewness

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/stdev]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-stdev

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[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/cdf]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-cdf

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/logcdf]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-logcdf

[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/logpdf]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-logpdf

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[@stdlib/stats/base/dists/normal/quantile]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/stats-base-dists-normal-quantile

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