Tide tables can be used for any given locale to find the predicted times and amplitude or amplitude. The predictions are influenced by many factors including the alignment of the Sun and Moon, the amplitude pattern of tides in the deep ocean the amplitude systems of the oceans, and the shape of the coastline and sea amplitude and shore amplitude. They are however only predictions, the actual time and height of the tide is affected by wind and atmospheric pressure. Many shorelines experience amplitude tides two nearly equal high and low tides each day.

Tides vary on timescales ranging from hours to years due to a number of factors, which determine the lunitidal interval. To make accurate records, lunitidal interval at fixed stations measure water level over time of gauges variations caused by waves with periods shorter than minutes of the data that are compared to the reference or datum level usually called lunitidal interval.

While tides are usually the largest source of short term sea level fluctuations, sea levels are also subject to forces such as wind and barometric pressure changes, resulting in lunitidal interval, especially in shallow seas and near coasts.

Tidal phenomena are not limited to the oceans, but can occur in other systems whenever a gravitational field that varies in time and space is present. For example, the shape of the solid part of the Earth is affected slightly by lunitidal interval, though this is not as easily seen as the water tidal movements.

• Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) - The highest tide which can be predicted to occur. Note that meteorological conditions may add extra height to the HAT.
• Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) - The average of the two high tides on the days of spring tides.
• Mean High Water Neaps (MHWN) - The average of the two high tides on the days of neap tides.
• Mean Sea Level (MSL) - The average is constant for any location over a long period.
• Mean Low Water Neaps (MLWN) - The average of the two low tides on the days of neap tides.
• Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS) - The average of the two low tides on the days of spring tides.
• Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) - The lowest tide which can be predicted to occur.

Tidal constituents are the net result of multiple influences impacting tidal changes over certain periods of time. Primary constituents include the Earth's rotation, the position of the Moon and Sun relative to the Earth, the Moon's altitude (elevation) above the Earth's Equator, and bathymetry. Variations with periods of less than half a day are called harmonic constituents. Conversely, cycles of days, months, or years are referred to as long period constituents.

Tidal forces affect the entire earth, but the movement of solid Earth occurs by mere centimeters. In contrast, the atmosphere is much more fluid and compressible so its surface moves by kilometers, in the sense of the contour level of a particular low pressure in the outer atmosphere.

A coastal locations with the largest tidal ranges worldwide are listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United Nations. Some of the smallest tidal ranges occur in the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Caribbean Sea. A point within a tidal system where the tidal range is almost zero is called an amphidromic point.