# False positive: what it is and how it works · Zorraquino
> A false positive is a result that indicates a condition when that condition is absent.
URL: https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/false-positive.html

# False positive

A false positive is a result that indicates a condition when that condition is absent. In a filter, for example, it occurs when a legitimate message is classified as spam

What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.

[The whole glossary](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary)

## What it is and how it works

The cost of the error depends on the task and its consequences. It is not always more or less serious than a [false negative](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/false-negative.html). Choosing a threshold requires weighing both types of error and the options for review, rather than maximising a single figure without considering who is affected.

Topics

[Marketing and sales](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/category/marketing-y-ventas)

## Related concepts

- [False negative](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/false-negative.html)
- [Email deliverability](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/deliverability.html)
- [Anti-spam and antivirus filter](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/internet/antispam-antivirus-filter.html)