The focal length is the distance from the Image side principal plane to the image of objects at infinity.
For single lenses in air that is equal to the distance from the first focal point to the first principal point.
(in each case measured from the left to the right)
Note that this is a positive value for converging lenses and a negative value for the divergent lenses.
The larger the focal length, the smaller the aperture angle of the lens and the smaller the object section that is displayed full-frame on the sensor.
The lens captures less of the object. Extremea are telephoto lenses and finally telescopes.
The smaller the focal length, the larger the aperture angle of the lens and the larger the object section which is displayed full-frame on the sensor.
The lens captures more of the object. Extreme forms are fisheye lenses.
Lenses are typically listed, sorted by focal length. As an approximation, lenses with larger focal length see a smaller portion of the object (in more detail).
There are exceptions! (See: pseudo-knowledge: viewing angle and focal length are equivalent)
Therefore for wide angles a too small focal length is returned .. (as all focal length calculators on the internet do 😉 );
Also keep in mind that the Gauss lens equation and the Newtonian image equation both assume same CRA on object and image side, which is nearly never given for wide angle lenses and for sure not for fisheye lenses.
Therefore when you calculate focal length, object and image distances, they will in general differ from the real world situation you measure!
However, Viewing angles change with the working distance! Also, a Pinhole lens model is assumed. Thus for wide angles a too small focal length is returned .. (as all focal length calculators on the internet do 😉 )
For the next calculator it is very important to correct the distortions before doing the calculation: