This document provides an introduction and overview of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It discusses the history and development of HPLC from its origins in 1903 to present day applications. The document covers various HPLC modes including normal phase, reversed phase, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. It explains the separation principles, stationary phases, and applications of each mode. The document also discusses HPLC method development, validation, and the expanding role of HPLC in areas like drug discovery and analysis.