Criminalistics is the forensic science of analyzing and interpreting evidence using the natural sciences.
Forensic science pertains to all sciences applied to legal problems.
Physical evidence can be a weapon, a piece of clothing, a bloodstain, drugs, or even a vapor in the air. Criminalists use physical evidence to provide a link between the suspect and the victim. Such links can be provided by the transfer of clothing fibers or hair fibers from a suspect to the victim. Examples of other links are fingerprints, bullets, or shoe impressions. Physical evidence is collected from a crime scene that includes the victim's body and the surrounding area of the crime.