Ideal may refer to:

Philosophy

* Ideal (ethics), values that one actively pursues as goals * Platonic ideal, a philosophical idea of trueness of form, associated with Plato

Mathematics

Ideal (ring theory) In ring theory, a branch of abstract algebra, an ideal of a ring is a special subset of its elements. Ideals generalize certain subsets of the integers, such as the even numbers or the multiples of 3. Addition and subtraction of even numbers pr ...

, special subsets of a ring considered in abstract algebra * Ideal, special subsets of a semigroup *

Ideal (order theory) In mathematical order theory, an ideal is a special subset of a partially ordered set (poset). Although this term historically was derived from the notion of a ring ideal of abstract algebra, it has subsequently been generalized to a different noti ...

, special kind of lower sets of an order * Ideal (set theory), a collection of sets regarded as "small" or "negligible" * Ideal (Lie algebra), a particular subset in a Lie algebra * Ideal point, a boundary point in hyperbolic geometry * Ideal triangle, a triangle in hyperbolic geometry whose vertices are ideal points

Science

* Ideal chain, in science, the simplest model describing a polymer * Ideal gas law, in physics, governing the pressure of an ideal gas * Ideal transformer, an electrical transformer having zero resistance and perfect magnetic threading *

Ideal final result TRIZ (; russian: теория решения изобретательских задач, ', lit. "theory of inventive problem solving") is “the next evolutionary step in creating an organized and systematic approach to problem solving. The deve ...

, in TRIZ methodology, the best possible solution * Thought experiment, sometimes called an ideal experiment *

Ideal type Ideal type (german: Idealtypus), also known as pure type, is a typological term most closely associated with sociologist Max Weber (1864–1920). For Weber, the conduct of social science depends upon the construction of abstract, hypothetical co ...

, a social science term *

Ideal solution In chemistry, an ideal solution or ideal mixture is a solution that exhibits thermodynamic properties analogous to those of a mixture of ideal gases. The enthalpy of mixing is zero as is the volume change on mixing by definition; the closer to zero ...

, a solution with thermodynamic properties analogous to those of a mixture of ideal gases

Entertainment

* Ideal (group), a late-1990s/2000s American R&B group * Ideal (German band), an early-1980s German rock group * ''Ideal'' (album), a 1999 album by the R&B group Ideal * '' An Ideal'', a 2016 album by Li Ronghao * ''Ideal'' (novel), a 1934 novel by Ayn Rand, published in 2015 ** ''Ideal'' (play), a 1936 play by Ayn Rand, adapted from the novel, published in 1989 * ''Ideal'' (TV series), a British situation comedy * Ideal Film Company, a British film studio of the Silent Era * Ideal Ice Cream, an ice cream company * Ideal Toy Company, a defunct toy company

Places

* Ideal, Georgia * Ideal, Illinois * Ideal, South Dakota * Ideal Mini School

Miscellaneous

* Changhe Ideal, a city car produced by a joint-venture of Changhe and Suzuki * Ideal 18, a Canadian sailboat design *

IDEAL Scholars Fund Ideal may refer to: Philosophy * Ideal (ethics), values that one actively pursues as goals * Platonic ideal, a philosophical idea of trueness of form, associated with Plato Mathematics * Ideal (ring theory), special subsets of a ring considered ...

, an American scholarship program for underrepresented students * ''Ideal'' (newspaper), a Spanish-language newspaper * iDEAL, an online payment method in the Netherlands *

Ideal Industries Ideal Industries is an American company that produces connectors, hand tools, testers, and meters for the electrical and telecommunications industries. The company manufactures many of its products in the United States. It also owns Western Fo ...