NMR uses radio-frequency pulses (1 – 1000 MHz) to excite molecules placed within a strong magnetic field (0.5 – 20 Tesla). Molecules containing NMR-active nuclei produce detectable signals as they relax back to the ground spin state. The detected peaks appear shifted from a reference standard based upon the specific chemical environment surrounding the nuclei. Each unique nuclear environment gives rise to a peak at a specific chemical shift. Peak signal intensities can be integrated to determine the relative number of nuclei occupying each unique environment. Peaks can also be split based upon local chemical neighbors; which provides spatial proximity between coupled chemical environments. The most common nucleus analyzed is ¹H because of its high natural abundance, high sensitivity, and occurrence in organic molecules. Other common nuclei amenable to NMR spectroscopy include ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹⁹F, and ¹⁵N.

NMR can analyze neat liquids or dissolved organic solids (preferably in deuterated solvents) with concentrations down to 100 mM. Chemical identification can be made based upon processing raw data and fitting the resultant spectrum against theoretically simulated data. Spectral libraries are not required. Identification is most confident when the sample contains a single chemical. Chemicals best analyzed with NMR include drugs, explosives, chemical weapons, solvents, and other organic molecules (with molecular weights below 500 amu).

NMR instruments vary greatly in form factor, ranging from very large high power instruments to much smaller benchtop models.  A number of commercial NMR instruments are available as the technique is very mature.  NMR spectrometer performance and price is dependent on the instrument setup, especially as to the RF and magnet used for data acquisition. Current miniaturized NMR technology uses similar, although not identical instrumental configurations.