Importance of Semi Inclusive DIS Processes in Determining Fragmentation Functions

A NLO QCD analysis of the HERMES and COMPASS data on pion multiplicities is presented. Sets of pion fragmentation functions are extracted from fits to the data and compared with those obtained from other groups before these data were available. The consistency between HERMES and COMPASS data is discussed. We point out a possible inconsistency between the HERMES [x, z] and [Q^2, z] presentations of their data.