In [[mathematics]] and [[theoretical physics]], '''zeta function regularization''' is a type of [[regularization (mathematicsphysics)|regularization]] or [[summability method]] that assigns finite values to [[Divergent series|divergent sums]] or products, and in particular can be used to define [[determinant]]s and [[trace (linear algebra)|trace]]s of some [[self-adjoint operator]]s. The technique is now commonly applied to problems in [[physics]], but has its origins in attempts to give precise meanings to ill-conditioned sums appearing in [[number theory]].
