Control may refer to:

Basic meanings

Economics and business

Control (management) Control is a function of management that helps identify errors and take corrective actions. This is done to minimize deviation from standards and ensure that the stated goals of the organization are achieved effectively. According to modern con ...

, an element of management * Control, an element of

management accounting In management accounting or managerial accounting, managers use accounting information in decision-making and to assist in the management and performance of their control functions. Definition One simple definition of management accounting is th ...

Comptroller A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accountancy, accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior- ...

(or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization *

Controlling interest A controlling interest is an ownership interest in a corporation with enough voting stock shares to prevail in any stockholders' motion. A majority of voting shares (over 50%) is always a controlling interest. When a party holds less than the maj ...

, a percentage of voting stock shares sufficient to prevent opposition *

Foreign exchange controls Foreign exchange controls are various forms of controls imposed by a government on the purchase/sale of foreign currencies by residents, on the purchase/sale of local currency by nonresidents, or the transfers of any currency across national b ...

, regulations on trade *

Internal control Internal control, as defined by accounting and auditing, is a process for assuring of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies. A broa ...

, a process to help achieve specific goals typically related to managing risk

Mathematics and science

* Control (optimal control theory), a variable for steering a controllable system of state variables toward a desired goal * Controlling for a variable in statistics *

Scientific control A scientific control is an experiment or observation designed to minimize the effects of variables other than the independent variable (i.e. confounding variables). This increases the reliability of the results, often through a comparison betwe ...

, an experiment in which "confounding variables" are minimised to reduce error * Control variables, variables which are kept constant during an experiment * Biological pest control, a natural method of controlling pests * Control network in geodesy and surveying, a set of reference points of known geospatial coordinates *

Control room A control room or operations room is a central space where a large physical facility or physically dispersed service can be monitored and controlled. It is often part of a larger command center. Overview A control room's purpose is produc ...

, a room where a physical facility can be monitored *

Process control Industrial process control (IPC) or simply process control is a system used in modern manufacturing which uses the principles of control theory and physical industrial control systems to monitor, control and optimize continuous Industrial processe ...

in continuous production processes * Security controls, safeguards against security risks

Medicine

* Control, according to the ICD-10-PCS, in the Medical and Surgical Section (0), is the root operation (# 3) that means stopping, or attempting to stop, post-procedural bleeding ** Chlordiazepoxide, also sold under the trade name ''Control'' **

Lorazepam Lorazepam, sold under the brand name Ativan, Tavor among others, is a benzodiazepine medication. It is used to treat anxiety (including anxiety disorders), insomnia, severe agitation, active seizures including status epilepticus, alcoh ...

, sold under the trade name ''Control''

Systems engineering, computing and technology

* Automatic control, the application of control theory for regulation of processes without direct intervention *

Control character In computing and telecommunications, a control character or non-printing character (NPC) is a code point in a character encoding, character set that does not represent a written Character (computing), character or symbol. They are used as in-ba ...

, or non-printing character, in a character set; does not represent a written symbol, but is used to control the interpretation or display of text **

Unicode control characters Many Unicode characters are used to control the interpretation or display of text, but these characters themselves have no visual or spatial representation. For example, the null character ( ) is used in C-programming application environment ...

, characters with no visual or spatial representation *

Control engineering Control engineering, also known as control systems engineering and, in some European countries, automation engineering, is an engineering discipline that deals with control systems, applying control theory to design equipment and systems with d ...

, a discipline of modeling and controlling of systems *

Control system A control system manages, commands, directs, or regulates the behavior of other devices or systems using control loops. It can range from a single home heating controller using a thermostat controlling a domestic boiler to large industrial ...

, the ability to control some mechanical or chemical equipment *

Control theory Control theory is a field of control engineering and applied mathematics that deals with the control system, control of dynamical systems in engineered processes and machines. The objective is to develop a model or algorithm governing the applic ...

, the mathematical theory about controlling dynamical systems over time *

Control flow In computer science, control flow (or flow of control) is the order in which individual statements, instructions or function calls of an imperative program are executed or evaluated. The emphasis on explicit control flow distinguishes an '' ...

, means of specifying the sequence of operations in computer programs * Control variables in programming, which regulate the flow of control *

Control key In computing, a Control key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, performs a special operation (for example, ). Similarly to the Shift key, the Control key rarely performs any function when pressed by itself. ...

, on a computer keyboard *

GUI widget A graphical widget (also graphical control element or control) in a graphical user interface is an element of interaction, such as a button or a scroll bar. Controls are software components that a computer user interacts with through direct m ...

(control or widget), a component of a graphical user interface *

Input device In computing, an input device is a piece of equipment used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system, such as a computer or information appliance. Examples of input devices include keyboards, computer mice, scanne ...

(control), a physical user interface to a computer system

Society, psychology and sociology

Control (psychology) In psychology, control is a person's ability or perception of their ability to affect themselves, others, their conditions, their environment or some other circumstance. Control over oneself or others can extend to the regulation of emotions, t ...

Control freak Control freak is a colloquialism for a person who feels a psychological need to constantly be in charge of things and people around them. A control freak can become distressed when they feel things are going out of control. The feel of the need ...

, a person who attempts to dictate * Controlling behavior in relationships (also called coercive control) *

Locus of control Locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they, as opposed to external forces (beyond their influence), have control over the outcome of events in their lives. The concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has sinc ...

, an extent to which individuals believe that they can control events that affect them * Mind control, the use of manipulative methods to persuade others (brainwashing) *

Power (social and political) In political science, power is the ability to influence or direct the actions, beliefs, or conduct of actors. Power does not exclusively refer to the threat or use of force (coercion) by one actor against another, but may also be exerted thro ...

, the ability to control others *

Self-control Self-control is an aspect of inhibitory control, one of the core executive functions. Executive functions are cognitive processes that are necessary for regulating one's behavior in order to achieve specific goals. Defined more independen ...

, the ability to control one's emotions and desires *

Social control Social control is the regulations, sanctions, mechanisms, and systems that restrict the behaviour of individuals in accordance with social norms and orders. Through both informal and formal means, individuals and groups exercise social con ...

, mechanisms that regulate social behavior *

Civilian control of the military Civil control of the military is a doctrine in military science, military and political science that places ultimate command responsibility, responsibility for a country's Grand strategy, strategic decision-making in the hands of the state's c ...

Other basic uses

* Control point (orienteering), a marked waypoint in orienteering and related sports *

Control (linguistics) In linguistics, control is a construction in which the understood Subject (linguistics), subject of a given predicate (grammar), predicate is determined by some expression in context. Stereotypical instances of control involve verbs. A superordinate ...

, a relation between elements of two clauses

Geography

* Control, Alberta

Media

Books

* ''Control'' (novel), a 1982 novel by William Goldman * Control (fictional character), in the 1974 British spy novel ''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy''

Film and TV

Films

* ''Control'' (1987 film) or , a 1987 made-for-television film starring Burt Lancaster * ''Control'' (2004 film), starring Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez * ''Control'' (2007 film), a film about Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, directed by Anton Corbijn * ''Control'' (2013 film), a Chinese–Hong Kong film written and directed by Kenneth Bi * ''Control'' (2023 film), a British film directed by Gene Fallaize and featuring the voice of Kevin Spacey * ''Control'' (upcoming film), directed by Robert Schwentke and starring James McAvoy * '' Kontroll'', a 2003 Hungarian film, released as ''Control'' internationally * ''Control'', a UK comedy short by Frank Miller

TV

* Control (''House''), a 2005 episode of the television series ''House'' * ''Control'', a Spanish-language series aired on

Univision Univision () is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the L ...

* Control, a recurring character in the sketch programme ''

A Bit of Fry & Laurie ''A Bit of Fry & Laurie'' is a British sketch comedy television series written by and starring former Cambridge Footlights members Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, broadcast on both BBC1 and BBC2 between 1989 and 1995. It ran for four series ...

'' * Control, a character on the science fiction crime drama Person of Interest * '' - The Money of Soul And Possibility Control'', or '' - Control'', a 2011 anime * ''Ctrl'' (web series), an American comedy web series * CONTROL (''Get Smart''), a fictional counter-espionage agency

Games

* Control and control-bid, features of the game contract bridge * ''Control'' (video game), a 2019 video game by Remedy Entertainment

Music

* Kontrol - a Bulgarian punk band * Control (''Starlight Express''), a character from the rock musical

Albums

* ''Control'' (GoodBooks album), 2007 * ''Control'' (Janet Jackson album), 1986 * ''Control'' (Pedro the Lion album), 2002 * ''Control'', a 2011 album by Abandon * ''Control'', a 2014 album by The Brew * ''Control'', a 1981 album by

Conrad Schnitzler Conrad "Conny" Schnitzler (17 March 1937 – 4 August 2011) was a prolific German experimental musician associated with West Germany's 1970s krautrock movement. A co-founder of West Berlin's Zodiak Free Arts Lab, he was an early member of Tang ...

* ''Control'', a 2013 EP by Disclosure * ''Control'', a 1994 album by Hellnation * ''Control'', a 2012 EP by The Indecent * ''Control'', a 1971 album by John St Field * ''Control'', a 2012 album by Uppermost * ''Control'', a 2003 album by Where Fear and Weapons Meet * ''Ctrl'' (SZA album), 2017

Songs

* "Control" (Big Sean song), 2013 * "Control" (Garbage song), 2012 * "Control" (Janet Jackson song), 1986 * "Control" (Kid Sister song), 2007 * "Control" (Matrix & Futurebound song), 2013 * "Control" (Metro Station song), 2007 * "Control" (Mutemath song), 2004 * "Control" (Poe song), 1998 * "Control" (Puddle of Mudd song), 2001 * "Control" (Traci Lords song), 1994 * "Control" (Zoe Wees song), 2020 * "Control", by Ayra Starr from '' The Year I Turned 21'', 2024 * "Control", by Amyl and the Sniffers from '' Amyl and the Sniffers'', 2019 * "Control", by Basement from '' Colourmeinkindness'', 2012 * "Control", by the Black Dahlia Murder from '' Everblack'', 2013 * "Control", by Delta Goodrem from '' Child of the Universe'', 2012 * "Control", by Disclosure from '' The Face'', 2012 * "Control", by División Minúscula, 2008 * "Control", by Doja Cat from '' Purrr!'', 2014 * "Control", by Earshot from '' Two'', 2004 * "Control", by Feder, 2018 * "Control", by Ghost9 from ''Now: Who We Are Facing,'' 2021 * "Control", by Halsey from ''

Badlands Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded."Badlands" in '' Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 47. They are characterized by steep slopes, ...

'', 2015 * "Control", by London Grammar from '' Truth Is a Beautiful Thing'', 2017 * "Control", by Playboi Carti from ''

Whole Lotta Red ''Whole Lotta Red'' is the second studio album by the American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on December 25, 2020, by AWGE and Interscope Records. Recording began in late 2018, following the release of its predecessor '' Die Lit'' (2018 ...

'', 2020 * "Control", by Poe from '' Haunted'', 2000 * "Control", by Stabbing Westward from '' Ungod'', 1994 * "Control", by Wisin from '' El Regreso del Sobreviviente'', 2014 * "Control (Somehow You Want Me)", by Tenth Avenue North from '' Followers'', 2016