In physics, a quantum is the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction. Quantum is a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents. The fundamental notion that a property can be "quantized" is referred to as "the hypothesis of quantization". This means that the magnitude of the physical property can take on only discrete values consisting of integer multiples of one quantum. For example, a photon is a single quantum of light of a specific frequency. Similarly, the energy of an electron bound within an atom is quantized and can exist only in certain discrete values. Atoms and matter in general are stable because electrons can exist only at discrete energy levels within an atom. Quantization is one of the foundations of the much broader physics of quantum mechanics. Quantization of energy and its influence on how energy and matter interact is part of the fundamental framework for understanding and describing nature.

भौतिक विज्ञान, में क्वांटम अन्योन्य क्रिया में शामिल किसी भौतिक राशी का निम्नतम मान है। इसकी उत्पति भौतिक गुणधर्म "क्वांटीकरण" है जिसे "क्वांटीकरण परिक्लपना" के नाम से जाना जाता है। इसका अर्थ यह है कि परिमाण केवल विविक्त रूप में ही हो सकता है, सतत नहीं।