Bacterial staining is a laboratory technique used to enhance the visibility of bacteria under a microscope. This process involves applying specific dyes or stains to bacterial samples, which bind to cellular components, making them more distinguishable. Common staining methods include the Gram stain, which differentiates bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative based on their cell wall structure. The primary goal of bacterial staining is to identify and classify bacteria for diagnostic purposes. Stains can also reveal the shape, size, and arrangement of bacterial cells, aiding in the understanding of their morphology. Other staining techniques include acid-fast staining and endospore staining, each serving unique purposes in microbiology.