An ideal type is a conceptual construct or model that serves as a measuring rod or analytical tool against which specific cases can be evaluated and compared. The concept was developed by Max Weber, who emphasised that an ideal type is not meant to represent a perfect or desirable state, nor is it a statistical average of real-world cases. Instead, it is a deliberately constructed analytical abstraction that exaggerates certain features of a social phenomenon to highlight its essential characteristics and to provide a framework for understanding variations and similarities in empirical cases. For example, Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy outlines the key characteristics of a perfectly rational and efficient bureaucratic organisation, which can then be used to analyse and compare real-world bureaucracies that may deviate from this ideal in various ways. Ideal types are valuable tools for sociological analysis, helping researchers to clarify concepts, identify patterns, and develop theoretical insights.