Abductive reasoning is a logical process used to form the best possible explanation for a set of observations. It involves starting with incomplete information and making educated guesses to arrive at the most likely conclusion. This type of reasoning is often used in everyday problem-solving and scientific research. In contrast to deductive and inductive reasoning, which follow strict logical rules, abductive reasoning is more flexible and creative. It allows for the generation of hypotheses that can be tested further. This method is commonly employed in fields like medicine, where doctors make diagnoses based on symptoms and available evidence.