Any thermodynamic system can be analyzed in two ways, microscopic and macroscopic viewpoint. The difference between microscopic and macroscopic viewpoint are enlisted below:
| Microscopic viewpoint | Macroscopic viewpoint | |
| 1 | This approach involves a large number of variables. | This approach involves a smaller number of variables. |
| 2 | The calculation is time-consuming and tedious in microscopic analysis. | The calculation is relatively faster and simpler in microscopic analysis. |
| 3 | This approach is usually used in statistical thermodynamics and used by pure scientists. | This approach is usually used in the applied thermodynamics and used by engineers. |