Capillary electrophoresis is a laboratory technique used to separate charged particles, such as proteins and nucleic acids, based on their size and charge. It involves applying an electric field to a thin capillary tube filled with a gel or liquid, causing the particles to migrate at different speeds. Smaller or more highly charged particles move faster, allowing for effective separation. This method is highly efficient and requires only small sample volumes, making it ideal for analyzing complex mixtures. Capillary electrophoresis is widely used in fields like biochemistry, forensic science, and genomics for applications such as DNA sequencing and protein analysis.