Evaluation & Quality
True positive
A correct detection: the system says a condition is present, and it really is present.
Example
A checker correctly flags an item that really is defective.
Why people use it
It records a case where the system correctly found the condition being checked.
What you'll hear
“The detector caught a real fault.”
What this means for you
Consider correct detections alongside missed defects and false alarms.
Can you control it?
No
No direct control. This describes a wider issue, concept or result rather than something you can simply switch on or off in a tool.
Common questions
- Does one true positive establish reliable performance?
- No. Reliability requires enough representative cases and attention to errors.
- Does 'positive' mean the outcome is desirable?
- No. A positive result can mean a fault, illness or other unwanted condition was correctly detected.
- Can a correct detection still arrive too late?
- Yes. Correctness and timely usefulness are separate parts of performance.