Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. The technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle, though analysis as a formal concept is a relatively recent development.

The word is a transcription of the ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (analusis), "a breaking up" (from ana- "up, throughout" + lysis "a loosening").

As a formal concept, the method has variously been ascribed to Ibn al-Haytham, René Descartes (Discourse on the Method) and Galileo Galilei. It has also been ascribed to Isaac Newton, in the form of a practical method of physical discovery (which he did not name or formally describe).

Chemistry

The field of chemistry uses analysis to break down chemical processes and examine chemical reactions between elements of matter. For example, analysis of the concentration of elements is important in managing a nuclear reactor, so nuclear scientists will analyze neutron activation to develop discrete measurements within vast samples. A matrix can have a considerable effect on the way a chemical analysis is conducted and the quality of its results. Analysis can be done manually or with a device. Chemical analysis is an important element of national security among the major world powers with Materials Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) capabilities.

Isotopes

Chemists can use isotopes to assist analysts with issues in anthropology, archeology, food chemistry, forensics, geology, and a host of other questions of physical science. Analysts can discern the origins of natural and man-made isotopes in the study of environmental radioactivity.

Business

• Business analysis, involves identifying the needs and determining the solutions to business problems
• Price Analysis, involves the breakdown of a price to a unit figure
• Market analysis, consists of suppliers and customers, and price is determined by the interaction of supply and demand

Computer science

• Analysis of algorithms
• Competitive analysis (online algorithm), shows how online algorithms perform and demonstrates the power of randomization in algorithms
• Lexical analysis, the process of processing an input sequence of characters and producing as output a sequence of symbols
• Object-oriented analysis and design, à la Booch
• Program analysis (computer science), the process of automatically analysing the behavior of computer programs
• Semantic analysis (computer science), a pass by a compiler that adds semantical information to the parse tree and performs certain checks
• Static code analysis, the analysis of computer software that is performed without actually executing programs built from that software
• Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology, à la Yourdon
• Syntax analysis, a process in compilers that recognizes the structure of programming languages, also known as parsing
• Worst-case execution time, determines the longest time that a piece of software can take to run