LHS is an informal shorthand for the left-hand side of an equation, while RHS is the right-hand side. In an equation, the LHS refers to everything on the left side of the equal sign, while the RHS refers to everything on the right side of the equal sign. For example, in the equation x + 5 = y + 8, x + 5 is the LHS and y + 8 is the RHS. The terms LHS and RHS can also apply to an inequation or inequality, where the right-hand side is everything on the right side of a test operator in an expression, with LHS defined similarly. The LHS and RHS are used to refer to the two sides that make up every algebraic equation.