What causes overshoot in a control loop and how can it be reduced?

Overshoot occurs when process variable exceeds setpoint before settling. Common causes: too high proportional gain (aggressive response), excessive integral action (windup), insufficient derivative action, or fast setpoint changes. Reduction methods: reduce proportional gain, increase derivative time, use setpoint ramping/filtering, enable anti-windup protection, or implement two-degrees-of-freedom control. Some overshoot may be acceptable for faster response; the balance depends on process requirements.