The Griffith criterion is a principle used in materials science to predict the conditions under which a material will fail due to crack propagation. It states that a crack will grow if the energy release rate exceeds a critical value, known as the material's fracture toughness. This criterion helps engineers understand how materials behave under stress and is essential for designing safe structures. This concept is named after the British engineer A.A. Griffith, who introduced it in the early 20th century. The Griffith criterion is particularly important in fields like mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and materials science, where understanding material failure is crucial for safety and reliability.