Postlab

Postlab, also written as post-lab, is a term used primarily in laboratory education to denote activities and documentation completed after performing a laboratory experiment. It encompasses the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the results obtained during the lab session, and it may be structured as a formal write-up, a worksheet, or an entry in a lab notebook. The postlab complements the prelab planning and in-lab procedures by focusing on understanding the outcomes, assessing the experimental design, and communicating findings clearly.

A typical postlab assignment includes data analysis, calculations of quantities such as averages and uncertainties, graphing of results, an error or uncertainty discussion, comparison with theoretical predictions or expected results, and a concluding section addressing whether the initial hypothesis was supported. It may also require a discussion of sources of error, limitations of the method, and ideas for improving future experiments. Ethical and safety considerations, reproducibility, and proper citation of sources can be included as applicable.

In many courses, postlabs are graded to evaluate scientific reasoning and written communication as much as procedural accuracy. Although commonly associated with educational settings, the term can also appear in professional or research environments as informal post-experiment notes, debriefings, or final reports that summarize findings and recommendations. The exact expectations and format vary by institution and discipline.