Artificial sweeteners are substances that are used to add a sweet taste to food and drinks, but contain little or no calories. They are commonly used as an alternative to sugar for people who want to reduce their calorie intake while still enjoying the sweetness of sugar. Artificial sweeteners are typically derived from natural sources such as plants, but they go through a process of chemical synthesis to create the desired sweet taste without any additional calories. Some common examples of artificial sweeteners include saccharin, aspartame and sucralose.