CINXE.COM

Engineering Portal | Britannica

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="topicbrowse-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development,..." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Engineering, LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Aerospace Engineering & Aviation', url='/browse/Aerospace-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Aeronautic-Defence-and-Space-Company'}, Link{text='Qian Xuesen', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Qian-Xuesen'}, Link{text='Charles Stark Draper', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Stark-Draper'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Civil Engineering', url='/browse/Civil-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='theatre', url='https://www.britannica.com/art/theater-building'}, Link{text='canals and inland waterways', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/canal-waterway'}, Link{text='road', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/road'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Electrical Engineering', url='/browse/Electrical-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Robert Kahn', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Elliot-Kahn'}, Link{text='Reginald Aubrey Fessenden', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reginald-Aubrey-Fessenden'}, Link{text='Jay Wright Forrester', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jay-Wright-Forrester'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Industrial Engineering', url='/browse/Industrial-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Frank Bunker Gilbreth', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Bunker-Gilbreth'}, Link{text='systems engineering', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/systems-engineering'}, Link{text='industrial engineering', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/industrial-engineering'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Mechanical Engineering', url='/browse/Mechanical-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='saw', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/saw'}, Link{text='mortar and pestle', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/mortar-and-pestle'}, Link{text='mechanical engineering', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/mechanical-engineering'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Military Engineering', url='/browse/Military-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Leonardo da Vinci', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci'}, Link{text='Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Napier-1st-Baron-Napier'}, Link{text='Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Baptiste-Vaquette-de-Gribeauval'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Naval Architecture', url='/browse/Naval-Architecture'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Joshua Humphreys', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joshua-Humphreys'}, Link{text='Robert Livingston Stevens', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Livingston-Stevens'}, Link{text='John Willis Griffiths', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Willis-Griffiths'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Nuclear Engineering', url='/browse/Nuclear-Engineering'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Chernobyl disaster', url='https://www.britannica.com/event/Chernobyl-disaster'}, Link{text='Hanford Site', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanford-Engineer-Works'}, Link{text='Homi Bhabha', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Homi-Bhabha'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Robotics', url='/browse/Robotics'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='barcode', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/barcode'}, Link{text='UPC', url='https://www.britannica.com/money/UPC'}, Link{text='pixel', url='https://www.britannica.com/technology/pixel'}]]" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering" /> <title>Engineering Portal | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "TopicBrowse", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.14", "date": 20241124, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "-2308310440978372329" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "B" ,"adsTestVersion": "B" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20241124}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"categoryId": 2004 }, "GA": {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"TopicBrowse","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development,..."/> <meta property="og:type" content="WEBSITE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Engineering Portal | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development,..."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"WEBSITE","title":"Engineering Portal","description":"Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development,...","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-browse-page.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.14" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> </head> <body data-leg="B" class="subcategories-browse user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-bb-ie"> <!--- assertive yield ---> <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","selected":true,"navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"Science-Tech","description":"Explore science and technology; astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","keywords":"astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","classId":"SCIENCE","sortOrder":2},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","selected":true,"navbarId":"SCIENCE"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-outline-white-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange-dark p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline">&nbsp;Now</span> </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE selected selected" href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="bg-navy-dark text-white text-center pt-30 pb-20"> <div class="container"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Technology", "name": "Technology" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering", "name": "Engineering" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb justify-content-center"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="link-white">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-white" href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> Engineering </span> </nav> <h1 class="font-serif mt-30 mb-20">Engineering</h1> <div class="font-serif grid"> <div class="col-sm-70 col-sm-offset-15"> Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development, in the United States, as the creative application of “scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behaviour under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.” The term engineering is sometimes more loosely defined, especially in Great Britain, as the manufacture or assembly of engines, machine tools, and machine parts.</div> </div> <div class="text-hr text-hr-right border-navy font-12 text-uppercase font-weight-bold mt-30 ls-lg">Browse Subcategories</div> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 mt-20 category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a href="/browse/Aerospace-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Aerospace Engineering & Aviation</a> <a href="/browse/Civil-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Civil Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Electrical-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Electrical Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Industrial-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Industrial Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Mechanical-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Mechanical Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Military-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Military Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Naval-Architecture" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Naval Architecture</a> <a href="/browse/Nuclear-Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Nuclear Engineering</a> <a href="/browse/Robotics" class="link-white ">Robotics</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <h2 class="label my-30 text-center">Featured Articles</h2> <div class="js-pinboard grid gy-20"> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Draper-Prize" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/160349-050-FCE6B9E3/side-gold-medal-winner-Charles-Stark-Draper.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Obverse side of the gold medal given to the winner of the Charles Stark Draper Prize, awarded annually by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Draper-Prize" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Draper Prize</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Draper Prize, award given by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for specific engineering achievements that have significantly affected modern society “by improving the quality of life, providing... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/naval-architecture" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/94953-050-D7BA85C4/cargo-ship-Golden-Gate-Bridge-San-Francisco.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="A cargo ship passing the Golden Gate Bridge, near San Francisco." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/naval-architecture" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">naval architecture</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Naval architecture, the art and science of designing boats and ships to perform the missions and to meet the requirements laid down by the prospective owners and operators. It involves knowledge of mechanics,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/radar" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/185517-138-7E2FCFD7/explanation-radar.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Learn how a radar works" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/radar" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">radar</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Radar, electromagnetic sensor used for detecting, locating, tracking, and recognizing objects of various kinds at considerable distances. It operates by transmitting electromagnetic energy toward objects,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/nanotechnology" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/79488-050-9D5BFAE9/Examples-realms-magnitude-orders.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="The powers of 10" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/nanotechnology" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">nanotechnology</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Nanotechnology, the manipulation and manufacture of materials and devices on the scale of atoms or small groups of atoms. The “nanoscale” is typically measured in nanometres, or billionths of a metre (nanos,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/railroad" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/28/233928-050-CC617C2B/high-speed-railway-commuter-train.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="high-speed train" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/railroad" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">railroad</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Railroad, mode of land transportation in which flange-wheeled vehicles move over two parallel steel rails, or tracks, either by self-propulsion or by the propulsion of a locomotive. After the first crude... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/115475-050-9F9B00CE/Self-portrait-drawing-Leonardo-da-Vinci-Royal-Library.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Leonardo da Vinci: self-portrait" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Leonardo da Vinci</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer whose skill and intelligence, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/tunnel" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/221131-050-8634F87F/coal-mine-Zabrze-Poland.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="railroad tunnel" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/tunnel" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">tunnels and underground excavations</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Tunnels and underground excavations, horizontal underground passageway produced by excavation or occasionally by nature’s action in dissolving a soluble rock, such as limestone. A vertical opening is usually... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/operations-research" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/1517-004-580A08DE/Job-shop-sequencing-problem-solutions.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="job shop sequencing problem" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/operations-research" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">operations research</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Operations research, application of scientific methods to the management and administration of organized military, governmental, commercial, and industrial processes. Operations research attempts to provide... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/construction" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/127022-004-DDEB9FD1/Apartment-buildings-construction-Cambridge-Eng.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="construction of apartment buildings" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/construction" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">construction</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Construction, the techniques and industry involved in the assembly and erection of structures, primarily those used to provide shelter. Construction is an ancient human activity. It began with the purely... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/engineering" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/58/186358-138-66D9F2C0/breakthroughs-motion-magnification-vibrations-forces-engineers-rain.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Understand motion magnification, a technique enabling researchers to monitor tiny vibrations in infrastructure" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/dam-engineering" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/58/1758-050-F33B1845/Itaipu-Dam-Upper-Parana-River-Paraguay-Ciudad.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Itaipú Dam" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/dam-engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">dam</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Dam, structure built across a stream, a river, or an estuary to retain water. Dams are built to provide water for human consumption, for irrigating arid and semiarid lands, or for use in industrial processes.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/particle-accelerator" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/3370-050-492701A7/accelerator-field-drift-tubes-proton-resonance-diagram.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="schematic diagram of a linear proton resonance accelerator" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/particle-accelerator" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">particle accelerator</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Particle accelerator, any device that produces a beam of fast-moving, electrically charged atomic or subatomic particles. Physicists use accelerators in fundamental research on the structure of nuclei,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/road" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/74/167874-050-994361EB/Sheikh-Zayed-Road-Dubai-United-Arab-Emirates.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Sheikh Zayed Road" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/road" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">road</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Road, traveled way on which people, animals, or wheeled vehicles move. In modern usage the term road describes a rural, lesser traveled way, while the word street denotes an urban roadway. Highway refers... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/surveying" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/2315-004-A65FA57A/photographs-flight-strips-mapping-details-Photo-points.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Figure 1: Photogrammetric photographs from two short, overlapping flight strips arranged for supplying mapping details. Photo-control points are shown on only one photograph; shading indicates a typical terrain feature such as a lake (see text)." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/surveying" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">surveying</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Surveying, a means of making relatively large-scale, accurate measurements of the Earth’s surfaces. It includes the determination of the measurement data, the reduction and interpretation of the data to... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/water-supply-system" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/102011-050-1AD92F24/water-reservoir-Sao-Paulo-Braz.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="São Paulo, Braz." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/water-supply-system" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">water supply system</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Water supply system, infrastructure for the collection, transmission, treatment, storage, and distribution of water for homes, commercial establishments, industry, and irrigation, as well as for such public... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine-tool" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/125397-004-D2AAC0D1/Drill-press.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="drill press" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine-tool" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">machine tool</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Machine tool, any stationary power-driven machine that is used to shape or form parts made of metal or other materials. The shaping is accomplished in four general ways: (1) by cutting excess material... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/canal-waterway" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/126519-050-EE8B60CD/Oudegracht-Utrecht-The-Netherlands.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Oudegracht" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/canal-waterway" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">canals and inland waterways</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Canals and inland waterways, natural or artificial waterways used for navigation, crop irrigation, water supply, or drainage. Despite modern technological advances in air and ground transportation, inland... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/bridge-engineering" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/20302-050-C9632F53/Seto-Great-Bridge-Inland-Sea-Kojima-Honshu.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Seto Great Bridge" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/bridge-engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">bridge</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Bridge, structure that spans horizontally between supports, whose function is to carry vertical loads. The prototypical bridge is quite simple—two supports holding up a beam—yet the engineering problems... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronics" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/216554-138-870AA8A9/Screen-printable-electronic-ink-for-flexible-electronics.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Conductors and insulators in flexible electronics" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronics" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">electronics</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Electronics, branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour, and effects of electrons and with electronic devices. Electronics encompasses an exceptionally broad range... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/microscope" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/114750-050-06EEB5F0/compound-microscope.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="compound microscope" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/microscope" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">microscope</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Microscope, instrument that produces enlarged images of small objects, allowing the observer an exceedingly close view of minute structures at a scale convenient for examination and analysis. Although... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/radiation-measurement" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/5716-004-7DC637F3/circuit-voltage-pulse-development-output-detector-V.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="detector output connected to a measuring circuit" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/radiation-measurement" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">radiation measurement</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Radiation measurement, technique for detecting the intensity and characteristics of ionizing radiation, such as alpha, beta, and gamma rays or neutrons, for the purpose of measurement. The term ionizing... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/hand-tool" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/105053-050-2B9BCD4C/hand-tools-carpentry.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="hand tools" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/hand-tool" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">hand tool</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Hand tool, any of the implements used by craftspersons in manual operations, such as chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing, or forging. Complementary tools, often needed as auxiliaries to shaping tools,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/power-physics" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/power-physics" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">power</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Power, in science and engineering, time rate of doing work or delivering energy, expressible as the amount of work done W, or energy transferred, divided by the time interval t—or W/t. A given amount of... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/harbor" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/84/114584-004-E624BA53/Yachting-harbour-Lorient-France.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Lorient" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/harbor" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">harbours and sea works</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Harbours and sea works, any part of a body of water and the manmade structures surrounding it that sufficiently shelters a vessel from wind, waves, and currents, enabling safe anchorage or the discharge... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="adm my-30"></div> <div class="subcategories"> <h2 class="h4 mt-40 mb-30 font-weight-bold">Engineering Subcategories</h2> <div class="grid gy-30 mb-30"> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Aerospace-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/187848-050-8492BB5F/Mylswamy-Annadurai-Indian-Chandrayaan-lunar-probe-model.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Annadurai, Mylswamy" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Aerospace-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Aerospace Engineering & Aviation</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Aerospace engineering, also called aeronautical engineering, or astronautical engineering, field of engineering concerned with the design, development, construction, testing, and operation of vehicles operating in the Earth’s atmosphere or in outer space. In 1958 the first definition of aerospace engineering appeared, considering the Earth’s atmosphere and the space above it as a single realm for development of flight vehicles.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Aeronautic-Defence-and-Space-Company">European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company</a> <div class="font-serif">European consortium</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Qian-Xuesen">Qian Xuesen</a> <div class="font-serif">Chinese scientist</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Stark-Draper">Charles Stark Draper</a> <div class="font-serif">American engineer</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Civil-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/148042-050-1B124CC0/Barge-lock-Grand-Canal-dAlsace-Marckolsheim-France.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Civil engineering" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Civil-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Civil Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Civil engineering, the profession of designing and executing structural works that serve the general public. The term was first used in the 18th century to distinguish the newly recognized profession from military engineering, until then preeminent.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/theater-building">theatre</a> <div class="font-serif">building</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/canal-waterway">canals and inland waterways</a> <div class="font-serif">waterway</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/road">road</a> <div class="font-serif">transportation</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Electrical-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/23598-004-1E6A382E/Vannevar-Bush-Differential-Analyzer-1935.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Vannevar Bush with Differential Analyzer" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Electrical-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Electrical Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Electrical and electronics engineering, the branch of engineering concerned with the practical applications of electricity in all its forms, including those of the field of electronics. Electronics engineering is that branch of electrical engineering concerned with the uses of the electromagnetic spectrum and with the application of such electronic devices as integrated circuits and transistors.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Elliot-Kahn">Robert Kahn</a> <div class="font-serif">American computer scientist</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reginald-Aubrey-Fessenden">Reginald Aubrey Fessenden</a> <div class="font-serif">Canadian scientist</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jay-Wright-Forrester">Jay Wright Forrester</a> <div class="font-serif">American engineer</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Industrial-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/186849-050-7A0B16BD/Lillian-Evelyn-Gilbreth.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Gilbreth, Lillian Evelyn" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Industrial-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Industrial Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Industrial engineering, application of engineering principles and techniques of scientific management to the maintenance of a high level of productivity at optimum cost in industrial enterprises.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Bunker-Gilbreth">Frank Bunker Gilbreth</a> <div class="font-serif">American engineer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/systems-engineering">systems engineering</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/industrial-engineering">industrial engineering</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Mechanical-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/125393-050-BA7F4807/Ax.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="ax" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Mechanical-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Mechanical Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Mechanical engineering, the branch of engineering concerned with the design, manufacture, installation, and operation of engines and machines and with manufacturing processes. It is particularly concerned with forces and motion.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/saw">saw</a> <div class="font-serif">tool</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/mortar-and-pestle">mortar and pestle</a> <div class="font-serif">tools</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/mechanical-engineering">mechanical engineering</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Military-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/133015-050-C7A2454E/Montgomery-C-Meigs.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Meigs, Montgomery C." class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Military-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Military Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Military engineering, the art and practice of designing and building military works and of building and maintaining lines of military transport and communications. Military engineering is the oldest of the engineering skills and was the precursor of the profession of civil engineering.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci">Leonardo da Vinci</a> <div class="font-serif">Italian artist, engineer, and scientist</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Napier-1st-Baron-Napier">Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier</a> <div class="font-serif">British field marshal</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Baptiste-Vaquette-de-Gribeauval">Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval</a> <div class="font-serif">French officer and engineer</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Naval-Architecture"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Naval-Architecture" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Naval Architecture</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Naval architecture, the art and science of designing boats and ships to perform the missions and to meet the requirements laid down by the prospective owners and operators. It involves knowledge of mechanics, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, steady and unsteady body motion, strength of materials, and design of structures.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joshua-Humphreys">Joshua Humphreys</a> <div class="font-serif">American ship designer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Livingston-Stevens">Robert Livingston Stevens</a> <div class="font-serif">American engineer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Willis-Griffiths">John Willis Griffiths</a> <div class="font-serif">American naval architect</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Nuclear-Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Nuclear-Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Nuclear Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Nuclear engineering is based on fundamental principles of physics and mathematics that describe nuclear interactions and the transport of neutrons and gamma rays. These phenomena in turn are dependent on heat transfer, fluid flow, chemical reactions, and behaviour of materials when subjected to radiation.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Chernobyl-disaster">Chernobyl disaster</a> <div class="font-serif">nuclear accident, Soviet Union [1986]</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanford-Engineer-Works">Hanford Site</a> <div class="font-serif">nuclear site, Washington, United States</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Homi-Bhabha">Homi Bhabha</a> <div class="font-serif">Indian physicist</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Robotics"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Robotics" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Robotics</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Robotics, Design, construction, and use of machines (robots) to perform tasks done traditionally by human beings. Robots are widely used in such industries as automobile manufacture to perform simple repetitive tasks, and in industries where work must be performed in environments hazardous to humans. Many aspects of robotics involve artificial intelligence.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/barcode">barcode</a> <div class="font-serif">data format</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/money/UPC">UPC</a> <div class="font-serif">retailing</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pixel">pixel</a> <div class="font-serif">electronics</div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <DIV class="marketing-CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Britannica Premium</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Did you know you're not getting the full Britannica experience? Access unlimited content with none of the ads by becoming a Britannica Premium subscriber.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=category-browse&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV> <nav class="breadcrumb my-30"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="" href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> Engineering </span> </nav> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <DIV class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>History at your fingertips &ndash;</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. </div> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="Footer" /><input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Mendel" /><input type="hidden" name="medium" value="Box" /></form> <div class="md-subscribed hidden text-white"> <div class="my-10">Thank you for subscribing!</div> <div>Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div></DIV> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex justify-content-center colored" data-value="connect" > <div class="share-label text-uppercase hidden-xs">Stay Connected</div> <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> <a class="social-icon youtube justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/encyclopaediabritannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>YouTube</span></a> <a class="social-icon instagram justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Instagram</span></a> <a class="social-icon pinterest justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="pinterest" href="https://www.pinterest.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg height="30" width="30" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="" role="img"><path d="M0 12c0 5.123 3.211 9.497 7.73 11.218-.11-.937-.227-2.482.025-3.566.217-.932 1.401-5.938 1.401-5.938s-.357-.715-.357-1.774c0-1.66.962-2.9 2.161-2.9 1.02 0 1.512.765 1.512 1.682 0 1.025-.653 2.557-.99 3.978-.281 1.189.597 2.159 1.769 2.159 2.123 0 3.756-2.239 3.756-5.471 0-2.861-2.056-4.86-4.991-4.86-3.398 0-5.393 2.549-5.393 5.184 0 1.027.395 2.127.889 2.726a.36.36 0 0 1 .083.343c-.091.378-.293 1.189-.332 1.355-.053.218-.173.265-.4.159-1.492-.694-2.424-2.875-2.424-4.627 0-3.769 2.737-7.229 7.892-7.229 4.144 0 7.365 2.953 7.365 6.899 0 4.117-2.595 7.431-6.199 7.431-1.211 0-2.348-.63-2.738-1.373 0 0-.599 2.282-.744 2.84-.282 1.084-1.064 2.456-1.549 3.235C9.584 23.815 10.77 24 12 24c6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0 0 5.373 0 12"></path></svg> </a> </div> <br/> <div class="container"> <ul class="list-unstyled legal-links"> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">About Us & Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Diversity</a></li> </ul> <div class="mt-20">&copy;2024 Encyclop&aelig;dia Britannica, Inc.</div> </div> </div> </footer> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script> <!-- Ortto ebmwprod capture code --> <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"TopicBrowse","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":null,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":true} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-browse-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"TopicBrowse","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10