Research metrics are tools used to evaluate the impact and quality of academic work. They help researchers, institutions, and funding bodies understand how often a study is cited, the influence of a journal, or the productivity of an individual researcher. Common metrics include the h-index, which measures both the number of publications and their citation impact, and impact factor, which reflects the average number of citations to articles in a journal. These metrics are essential for making informed decisions about funding, hiring, and publishing. However, it's important to use them wisely, as they can sometimes oversimplify the value of research or favor certain fields over others.