The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a common laboratory technique used to measure the concentration of an analyte like antibodies or antigens in solution. It works by using the principle of antigen-antibody binding and an enzyme-linked secondary antibody or antigen to detect the presence of an analyte. There are several types of ELISA including direct, indirect, sandwich, and competitive based on the procedure and detection method used. ELISA is a sensitive and specific technique with advantages like using inexpensive and stable reagents, but it also has limitations like possible false positives and negatives.