数字鉴识（有时又被称作数字鉴识科学）乃是鉴识科学的其中一个分支，主要在针对数字设备中的内容进行调查与复原，这常常是与电脑犯罪有所相关。数字鉴识一词原本是与电脑鉴识为同义词，但现在已经扩展到调查所有能够保存数字数据的设备。随着1970年代末期到1980年代初期的家用电脑革命从美国兴起，数字鉴识科学也逐渐在1990年代开始自然的发展，而直到二十一世纪初国家才逐渐形成对此学科的政策。

数字鉴识的调查结果有非常多元的应用，最常见的用途是当作电子侦查的部分进程，在刑事或民事法庭之上，支持或排除犯罪假设。鉴识也能在企业部门应用，例如公司内部调查或侵入调查(intrusion investigation)（专家们探究某次未授权的网络入侵行动的本质以及影响程度）。

Digital forensics (sometimes known as digital forensic science) is a branch of forensic science encompassing the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices, often in relation to computer crime. The term digital forensics was originally used as a synonym for computer forensics but has expanded to cover investigation of all devices capable of storing digital data. With roots in the personal computing revolution of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the discipline evolved in a haphazard manner during the 1990s, and it was not until the early 21st century that national policies emerged.