Measurements of the associated production of a
Z boson with at least one jet originating from a b quark in
proton–proton collisions at
√
s
=
8 TeV are presented. Dif-
ferential cross sections are measured with data collected by
the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated lumi-
nosity of 19.8 fb
−
1
. Z bosons are reconstructed through their
decays to electrons and muons. Cross sections are measured
as a function of observables characterizing the kinematics of
the b jet and the Z boson. Ratios of differential cross sec-
tions for the associated production with at least one b jet to
the associated production with any jet are also presented. The
production of a Z boson with at least two b jets is investigated,
and differential cross sections are measured for the dijet sys-
tem. Results are compared to theoretical predictions, testing
two different flavour schemes for the choice of initial-state
partons.