Method for the offline and/or online identification of an operating state of a machine tool, wherein the machine tool has at least one preferably rotatable clamping apparatus for clamping a workpiece to be processed, and at least one tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) which is able to be moved for positioning a tool which is held therein with which the workpiece can be processed, and sensors with which at least the position of the tool and/or the tool holder can be detected in a spatially and time-resolved manner, comprising the steps: a) for a series of time points i, i = 1...n, detecting or providing positions P of the tool and/or the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2), wherein the positions P are present as coordinates P i (x i, y i, z i) of a Cartesian coordinate system, characterised in that it additionally comprises the following steps: b) establishing for the series of time points i b1) a series of position changes Δ m i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ m i = P i P i − 1 and b2) a series of speed changes Δ v i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ v i = v i v i − 1 where v i = P i − P i − 1 t i − t i − 1 and v i − 1 = P i − 1 − P i − 2 t i − 1 − t i − 2, wherein according to the axes x, y, z of the Cartesian coordinate system for the position changes Δm i their respective components Δ m xi, Δ m yi, Δ m zi and for the speed changes Δ v i, their respective components Δv xi, Δv yi, Δv zi are determined, c) identifying the operating state of the machine tool on the basis of the position changes Δm i and the speed changes Δ v i, wherein the operating state represents a movement of the tool or tool holder, a rest phase of the tool or tool holder and/or represents a deviation from a predetermined movement speed of the clamping apparatus. wherein the machine tool has at least one preferably rotatable clamping apparatus for clamping a workpiece to be processed, and at least one tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) which is able to be moved for positioning a tool which is held therein with which the workpiece can be processed, and sensors with which at least the position of the tool and/or the tool holder can be detected in a spatially and time-resolved manner, comprising the steps: a) for a series of time points i, i = 1...n, detecting or providing positions P of the tool and/or the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2), wherein the positions P are present as coordinates P i (x i, y i, z i) of a Cartesian coordinate system, characterised in that it additionally comprises the following steps: b) establishing for the series of time points i b1) a series of position changes Δ m i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ m i = P i P i − 1 and b2) a series of speed changes Δ v i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ v i = v i v i − 1 where v i = P i − P i − 1 t i − t i − 1 and v i − 1 = P i − 1 − P i − 2 t i − 1 − t i − 2, wherein according to the axes x, y, z of the Cartesian coordinate system for the position changes Δm i their respective components Δ m xi, Δ m yi, Δ m zi and for the speed changes Δ v i, their respective components Δv xi, Δv yi, Δv zi are determined, c) identifying the operating state of the machine tool on the basis of the position changes Δm i and the speed changes Δ v i, wherein a) for a series of time points i, i = 1...n, detecting or providing positions P of the tool and/or the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2), wherein the positions P are present as coordinates P i (x i, y i, z i) of a Cartesian coordinate system, characterised in that it additionally comprises the following steps: b) establishing for the series of time points i b1) a series of position changes Δ m i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ m i = P i P i − 1 and b2) a series of speed changes Δ v i of the tool, the tool holder (WH 1, WH 2) and/or the clamping apparatus in accordance with Δ v i = v i v i − 1 where v i = P i − P i − 1 t i − t i − 1 and v i − 1 = P i − 1 − P i − 2 t i − 1 − t i − 2, wherein according to the axes x, y, z of the Cartesian coordinate system for the position changes Δm i their respective components Δ m xi, Δ m yi, Δ m zi and for the speed changes Δ v i, their respective components Δv xi, Δv yi, Δv zi are determined, c) identifying the operating state of the machine tool on the basis of the position changes Δm i and the speed changes Δ v i, wherein