What is accuracy in the context of measurement?

In the context of measurement, accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or actual value of the quantity being measured. It reflects the degree of correctness of a measurement, indicating how well the observed value aligns with the real value. This concept is essential in laboratory settings where obtaining precise and reliable data is critical for assessing the quality of results.

When discussing accuracy, it's important to understand that it is distinct from other related concepts, such as precision. Precision indicates the repeatability of measurements, meaning how consistently multiple measurements yield the same result, regardless of whether those results are close to the true value. Thus, while precision deals with the consistency of measurements, accuracy measures the correctness of those measurements in relation to the true value.