What is the main function of descriptive analytics?

The main function of descriptive analytics is to summarize historical data. This type of analytics provides a comprehensive overview of past events by organizing and interpreting data so that trends and patterns can be observed. By condensing large datasets into understandable formats, descriptive analytics enables stakeholders to gain insights into what has happened in the past, helping to inform current strategies and decisions.

While other aspects mentioned in the options might be associated with data analysis, they do not encapsulate the primary goal of descriptive analytics. For instance, recommending future actions pertains more to prescriptive analytics, creating data visualizations can be a tool used within descriptive analytics, and cleaning data focuses on ensuring data quality rather than summarizing or interpreting historical trends. Therefore, summarizing historical data captures the essence of what descriptive analytics aims to achieve.