# Null Hypothesis

*Math & Statistics — Finicade finance glossary*

The null hypothesis is the default claim a test tries to disprove — usually that there is no effect or no difference. Failing to reject it is not evidence that it's true, only that the data didn't rule it out, a distinction routinely lost in reporting. It must be stated before looking at the data, since a null chosen afterwards guarantees a finding.

**Also known as:** H0, alternative hypothesis

**Related terms:** [Hypothesis Test](https://finicade.com/glossary/hypothesis-test), [P-Value](https://finicade.com/glossary/p-value), [Statistical Significance](https://finicade.com/glossary/statistical-significance), [Type I and Type II Errors](https://finicade.com/glossary/type-i-and-type-ii-errors), [Statistical Power](https://finicade.com/glossary/statistical-power)

**Taught in:** Charter Climb — Hypothesis Testing, Step by Step

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/null-hypothesis