TRIZ Contradiction Matrix and Inventive Principles Tool

TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving developed by Genrich Altshuller from the analysis of more than 40,000 patents, maps common engineering contradictions to proven solution strategies called inventive principles, replacing trial-and-error brainstorming with a structured framework used by engineers, designers, product managers, and innovators.

• The Contradiction Matrix mode resolves a specific trade-off between two engineering parameters, one being improved and one being worsened by that improvement, either from a list of famous preset trade-offs or from any pair chosen directly. The matrix returns the inventive principles Altshuller's data associates with that pair. When a contradiction has no canonical recommendation, the tool computes soft suggestions from neighboring cells in the matrix, so there is still a starting point.
• The Browse All 40 Principles mode reviews every TRIZ inventive principle with its description and sub-principles, each behind a collapsible panel so only the ones worth reading need to be expanded.
• The Search Principles mode finds principles by keyword, such as "vibration", "thermal", or "composite". Matches are ranked: a hit in the principle name outranks a hit in the description, which outranks a hit in the sub-principles, with the matched text highlighted.
• A reciprocal control on any result flips the trade-off, showing how to improve the worsened parameter without harming the one originally improved, so a contradiction can be read from either direction.
• Any parameter name in a result opens every contradiction involving that parameter, whether it appears as the improving or the worsening side.
• Results export from any contradiction panel as Markdown or plain text, copied to the clipboard or saved as a file named after the parameter pair, for example triz-strength-vs-weight-moving.md, or, for soft suggestions, triz-soft-strength-vs-weight-moving.txt.
• Settings control whether principle descriptions appear by default and whether sub-principles open expanded.

TRIZ was developed by Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues from the mid-1940s onward, built out of an analysis of tens of thousands of patents. The forty inventive principles, their numbering, the thirty-nine engineering parameters, and the contradiction matrix that links them all originate in that work.

The descriptions and sub-principles written out in this tool are its own. Several English renderings of the principles circulate, many of them published commentaries that carry their own copyright, and none of them is reproduced here. The short principle names are kept because they are the shared vocabulary practitioners use to talk to one another, but every explanatory sentence beneath them was written for this tool. Where you want Altshuller's own formulation, go to his published work rather than to this paraphrase.

The contradiction matrix holds Altshuller's numeric recommendations. It has been spot-checked against published references, and for a decision that carries real cost it is worth verifying the specific cell you are relying on against an authoritative source.

Apply the TRIZ methodology across industries whenever a design improvement in one area causes degradation in another. The following scenarios illustrate practical applications of the contradiction matrix and inventive principles.

• Mechanical Engineering: Resolve the contradiction between increasing the strength of a structural component while reducing its weight. The matrix may recommend principles such as Composite Materials, Preliminary Action, or Dynamics to guide the design toward lightweight high-strength solutions.
• Product Design: Address the trade-off between improving the ease of manufacturing a consumer device and increasing its reliability. Principles such as Segmentation, Universality, or Nesting can suggest novel design approaches that satisfy both objectives.
• Software Engineering: Apply TRIZ thinking to resolve contradictions between system speed and accuracy, or between feature richness and ease of use. Principles like Partial or Excessive Action, Another Dimension, or Dynamics translate well into software architecture decisions.
• Education: Teach students systematic problem-solving methods by having them identify contradictions in case studies and look up recommended principles. The browse and search modes make the 40 principles accessible for classroom exercises and homework assignments.
• Manufacturing: Optimize production processes where increasing throughput degrades product quality. The contradiction matrix points to principles such as Periodic Action, Continuity of Useful Action, or Parameter Changes that have resolved similar contradictions across thousands of patented inventions.
• Research and Development: During early-stage ideation, use the full list of 40 principles as a creativity checklist to ensure the team has considered all proven solution strategies before committing to a design direction.
• Patent Analysis: Compare existing patents against TRIZ principles to identify which inventive strategies have already been applied to a contradiction and which remain unexplored for a given parameter pair.