Crystallites are small, often microscopic crystals that, held together through highly defective boundaries, constitute a polycrystalline solid. Metallurgists often refer to crystallites as grains.

Crystal size is usually measured from X-ray diffraction patterns and grain size by other experimental techniques like transmission electron microscopy. Solid objects that are large enough to see and handle are rarely composed of a single crystal, except for a few cases (gems, silicon single crystals for the electronics industry, certain types of fiber, single crystals of a nickel-based superalloy for turbojet engines, and some ice crystals which can exceed 0.5 meters in diameter). Most materials are polycrystalline; they are made of a large number of single crystals — crystallites — held together by thin layers of amorphous solid. The crystallite size can vary from a few nanometers to several millimeters.

If the individual crystallites are oriented randomly (that is, if they lack texture), a large enough volume of polycrystalline material will be approximately isotropic. This property helps the simplifying assumptions of continuum mechanics to apply to real-world solids. However, most manufactured materials have some alignment to their crystallites, which must be taken into account for accurate predictions of their behavior and characteristics.

James Pants is an American multi-instrumental recording artist. Although his music defies simple categorization, he is promoted as a purveyor of the "fresh beat," an early-80's sound with influences from 80’s soul, electro boogie, early rap, new wave, and post-punk disco.

He was discovered by DJ and Stones Throw Records head Peanut Butter Wolf, whom he approached while still in high school. When PBW did a gig in his hometown of Austin, Texas, Pants left his prom, with his date in tow, to meet him at the show. That night, he took PBW record shopping around town. From there, he interned at Stones Throw offices. After releasing several singles and compilations with Stones Throw, his released his debut album, Welcome, in 2008. His second LP, Seven Seals, was released in July 2009 and his third, self-titled LP was released on the 3rd of May, 2011.

He currently resides in Cologne, Germany.