Editing Puzzle (section)

{{short description|Problem or enigma that tests}}
{{for multi|the common jigsaw puzzle|Jigsaw puzzle|other uses|Puzzle (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Puzzle game|the video game genre|Puzzle video game}}
{{Puzzles|Types}}
A '''puzzle''' is a [[game]], [[Problem solving|problem]], or [[toy]] that tests a person's ingenuity or [[knowledge]]. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ([[Disentanglement puzzle|or take them apart]]) in a logical way, in order to find the solution of the puzzle. There are different genres of puzzles, such as [[Crosswords|crossword puzzles]], word-search puzzles, number puzzles, relational puzzles, and logic puzzles. The academic study of puzzles is called [[enigmatology]].

Puzzles are often created to be a form of entertainment but they can also arise from serious [[Mathematical problem|mathematical]] or [[logical]] problems. In such cases, their solution may be a significant contribution to mathematical research.<ref>Kendall G.; Parkes A.; and Spoerer K. (2008) ''A Survey of NP-Complete Puzzles'', International Computer Games Association Journal, 31(1), pp 13–34.</ref>