This document provides an introduction and overview of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It defines HPLC as a technique used to separate mixtures of compounds through a column. The principal of HPLC is based on adsorption or partition chromatography depending on the stationary phase. The document outlines the key components of an HPLC system including the solvent reservoir, pump, injector, column, detector and recorder. It also discusses stationary and mobile phases, sample injection methods, and types of pumps used in HPLC.