---
title: "Retention time: research glossary | Sable Peptides"
description: "Retention time is the time between sample introduction into a chromatograph and the appearance of a component's peak maximum at the detector. Under fixed c"
canonical: https://www.sablepeptides.co.uk/glossary/retention-time
publisher: Sable Peptides Limited (UK company 17488610)
note: Research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.
---

Glossary

# Retention time

Retention time is the time between sample introduction into a chromatograph and the appearance of a component's peak maximum at the detector. Under fixed conditions it is characteristic of a compound and is used for identification alongside mass spectrometry. It depends on column, mobile phase, gradient, flow rate and temperature.

Source: [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retention_time)

## Related terms

-   [Mobile phase](/glossary/mobile-phase)
-   [Mass spectrometry](/glossary/mass-spectrometry)

[Back to glossary A–Z](/glossary/terms)

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