All articles A–Z

Analytic–synthetic distinction

The analytic–synthetic distinction divides truths true by meaning alone (analytic) from truths also dependent on how the world is (synthetic). Rooted in Kant, reformulated by Frege, and challenged by Quine's 1951 'Two Dogmas of Empiricism'.

Analytical balance

An analytical balance, also called a chemical balance, is a laboratory weighing instrument that measures mass to 0.1 mg, typically weighing samples of 60 to 520 g.

Analytical chemistry

Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that determines what substances are present in a sample and how much of each, using instruments and validated methods.

Analytical chromatography

Analytical chromatography is a family of separation techniques that identifies and quantifies the components of chemical mixtures, reading what is present and how much from a chromatogram.

Analytical electron microscopy

Analytical electron microscopy (AEM) is a family of electron microscopy techniques combining imaging with EDS and EELS spectroscopy to determine the composition and structure of materials.

Analytical engine

The Analytical Engine was a proposed general-purpose mechanical digital computer designed by Charles Babbage, first conceived in 1834 and never built, programmable by punched cards with a memory called the Store.

Analytical hierarchy

The analytical hierarchy is a classification of relations on natural numbers by the function quantifiers needed to define them, the second-order counterpart of the arithmetical hierarchy, developed by Stephen Cole Kleene in 1955.

Analytical Jacobian

The analytical Jacobian is a matrix in robot kinematics that maps joint velocities to rates of change of the end-effector pose expressed in minimal parameters.

Analytical method validation

Analytical method validation is the process of demonstrating, with objective evidence, that an analytical procedure is fit for its intended purpose, governed by ICH Q2(R2) and Q14 since 2023.

Analytical profile index

The analytical profile index (API) is a standardized bacterial identification system combining miniaturized biochemical test strips with a numerical coding scheme and reference database, marketed by bioMérieux.

Analytical psychology

Analytical psychology, also called Jungian psychology, is Carl Jung's school of depth psychology, split from Freudian psychoanalysis; known for complexes, archetypes, individuation, and synchronicity, with strong evidence for complexes but contested archetype theory.

Analytical pyrolysis

Analytical pyrolysis is a technique that heats a microgram sample in an inert atmosphere and analyzes the volatile fragments by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, used in forensics, polymer quality control, and cultural heritage.

Analytical quality control

Analytical quality control is the set of checks, such as control charts and reference materials, applied to samples during routine analysis to confirm a method keeps producing valid results.

Analytical redundancy

Analytical redundancy is a model-based fault-detection technique that compares sensor measurements against a mathematical model's predictions; any discrepancy, called a residual, signals a fault without extra hardware.

Analytical skill

Analytical skill: the capacity to break information into parts, examine relationships, and draw reasoned conclusions; distinguished from critical thinking and problem solving; teachable via metacognitive training and the 4C/ID model.

Analytical ultracentrifugation

Analytical ultracentrifugation is a biophysical method that spins samples at high speed and records their sedimentation, measuring the size, shape, and interactions of macromolecules in solution.

Analytics

Analytics is the discipline of applying statistical, computational, and mathematical methods to data to explain what happened and what should be done, spanning four types: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive.

Oct 26, 2026

Analytics engineering

Analytics engineering: a data discipline transforming raw warehouse data into clean, tested, documented data sets using software engineering practices like version control and CI. Named in Michael Kaminsky's 2019 blog post; centered on the dbt ecosystem; 72% AI-assisted coding adoption in 2026.