Evidence is information, facts, or data that help prove or disprove a claim or belief. It serves to support the truth or validity of a proposition and can take many forms, including testimony, documents, physical objects, or scientific data
. In different contexts, evidence plays distinct roles:
- In law , evidence includes testimony, documents, physical objects, and other materials presented in court to establish or refute facts relevant to a case. It must be admissible under legal rules to be considered by a tribunal
- In science , evidence consists of information obtained through the scientific method that confirms or challenges hypotheses. This evidence is typically public and verifiable, such as experimental data or observations
- In everyday use and decision-making , evidence is factual information selected from reliable sources to support decisions or beliefs. It can be research-based or come from clinical experience, audits, or public opinion, with varying degrees of strength and quality
Philosophically, evidence is what justifies beliefs or makes it rational to hold certain views. The nature of evidence can vary widely, from private mental experiences to observable physical phenomena
. In summary, evidence is any factual information or material that supports or undermines a claim, varying by field but fundamentally serving as a basis for establishing truth or probability
