ALICE physics reach

The ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC will be dedicated to the investigation of heavy ion reactions at the highest energies. The main objective is the study of strongly interacting matter under extreme conditions. The performance of the ALICE detector for a variety of observables are discussed. A special emphasis is put on the measurement of hard probes, which will be of high relevance at LHC energies. For all these observables p+p reactions will provide an important baseline measurement, so therefore p+p physics will be an integral part of the ALICE programme.