High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. HPLC is a chromatographic technique used to separate mixtures of compounds. It involves pumping a pressurized mobile phase through a column containing a stationary phase. Compounds in a sample injected into the mobile phase are separated as they are carried through the column at different rates depending on their interactions with the stationary phase. HPLC is useful for both qualitative and quantitative analysis and has advantages such as high resolution, sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility. Common applications and components of an HPLC system are also outlined.