Condensed phases range from normal solids and liquids to the Bose-Einstein condensate found in certain atomic systems at very low temperatures. Other examples include superconducting phase exhibited by conduction electrons in certain materials, or the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of electron spins on atomic lattices. More recently “soft” condensed matter systems including polymeric, colloidal and biological materials are also categorized in CMP.

CMP is frequently associated with materials research, an application-oriented interdisciplinary field which involves the study of the synthesis, properties, and structure of a wide range of materials, many of practical or technological importance. The field draws contributions from CMP, chemistry and engineering and, more recently, from biology.