Criteria are the standards or principles used to evaluate or judge something. They help in making decisions by providing a clear framework for comparison. For example, when selecting a candidate for a job, employers may use criteria such as experience, skills, and cultural fit to determine the best applicant. In various fields, criteria can vary significantly. In education, grading criteria might include factors like understanding of the material, participation, and assignment completion. In science, criteria for experiments may involve reproducibility and accuracy. Overall, criteria serve as essential guidelines for assessment and decision-making processes.