smltn s n mttv rprsnttn f prcss r systm tht cld xst n th rl wrld. n ths brd sns, smltn cn ftn b sd ntrchngbly wth mdl. Smtms clr dstnctn btwn th tw trms s md, n whch smltns rqr th s f mdls; th mdl rprsnts th ky chrctrstcs r bhvrs f th slctd systm r prcss, whrs th smltn rprsnts th vltn f th mdl vr tm. nthr wy t dstngsh btwn th trms s t dfn smltn s xprmnttn wth th hlp f mdl. Ths dfntn nclds tm-ndpndnt smltns. ftn, cmptrs r sd t xct th smltn.
Smltn s sd n mny cntxts, sch s smltn f tchnlgy fr prfrmnc tnng r ptmzng, sfty ngnrng, tstng, trnng, dctn, nd vd gms. Smltn s ls sd wth scntfc mdllng f ntrl systms r hmn systms t gn nsght nt thr fnctnng, s n cnmcs. Smltn cn b sd t shw th vntl rl ffcts f ltrntv cndtns nd crss f ctn. Smltn s ls sd whn th rl systm cnnt b nggd, bcs t my nt b ccssbl, r t my b dngrs r nccptbl t ngg, r t s bng dsgnd bt nt yt blt, r t my smply nt xst.
Ky sss n mdlng nd smltn ncld th cqstn f vld srcs f nfrmtn bt th rlvnt slctn f ky chrctrstcs nd bhvrs sd t bld th mdl, th s f smplfyng pprxmtns nd ssmptns wthn th mdl, nd fdlty nd vldty f th smltn tcms. Prcdrs nd prtcls fr mdl vrfctn nd vldtn r n ngng fld f cdmc stdy, rfnmnt, rsrch nd dvlpmnt n smltns tchnlgy r prctc, prtclrly n th wrk f cmptr smltn.