Diversity indices are useful single-number metrics for characterizing a complex distribution of a set of attributes across a population of interest. The utility of these different metrics or set of metrics depend on the context and application, and whether a predictive mechanistic model exists. In this topical review, we outline the various definitions of "diversity" and provide examples of scientific topics in which its quantification plays an important role. We review how diversity is a ubiquitous concept across multiple fields including ecology, immunology, cellular barcoding studies, and social economic studies. Since many of these applications involve sampling of populations, we also review how diversity in small samples is related to the diversity in the entire population. Features that arise in each of these applications are highlighted.