启发法（heuristics，源自古希腊语的εὑρίσκω，又译作：策略法、助发现法、启发力、捷思法，）是指依据有限的知识（或“不完整的信息”）在短时间内找到问题解决方案的一种技术。它是一种依据关于系统的有限认知和假说从而得到关于此系统的结论的分析行为。由此得到的解决方案有可能会偏离最佳方案。通过与最佳方案的对比，可以确保启发法的质量。 典型的启发法有试错法和排除法。鉴于启发法基于经验，有时它也可能是基于错误的经验（如感知偏离和伪关系）。

A heuristic technique (/hjᵿˈrɪstᵻk/; Ancient Greek: εὑρίσκω, "find" or "discover"), often called simply a heuristic, is any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for the immediate goals. Where finding an optimal solution is impossible or impractical, heuristic methods can be used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution. Heuristics can be mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of making a decision. Examples of this method include using a rule of thumb, an educated guess, an intuitive judgment, stereotyping, profiling, or common sense.