Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is a new empirical Bayes method for performing Bayesian inference when the likelihood function is intractable or unavailable in closed form. ABC replaces the likelihood with a non-parametric approximation based on simulating data under different parameter values and comparing simulated and observed data using summary statistics. This allows Bayesian inference to be performed even when direct calculation of the likelihood is not possible. However, ABC introduces an approximation error that is unknown without extensive simulation. Some view ABC as a true Bayesian approach for an estimated or noisy likelihood, while others see it as more of a computational technique that is only approximately Bayesian.