Engraving is the process of cutting or incising a design into a hard, flat surface, usually a metal, with a pointed tool known as a graver. In its broadest meaning, engraving can be described as the art of cutting lines in wood, metal either for replication through printing or for decoration. In its narrowest sense, engraving is an intaglio printing method in which the lines are incised in a metal plate with a burin or a graver.

Some popular types of engravings include photo engraving, laser engraving, wood engraving and plaque engraving. In many of the industrial uses, such as the manufacturing of intaglio plates for commercial applications, hand engraving has been substituted with milling by CNC engraving or milling machines. Hand engraving techniques have survived mainly in a few specialized areas. This beautiful art is seen epitomized on jewelry, metal weaponry, firearms and musical instruments. Nowadays, engraving is done on almost all objects including certificates, postage stamps and currency.

The earliest known engravings printed on paper dates from about the middle of the 15th century. Most of the antique engraved designs on very old gold rings and other objects were produced by a combination of chasing and lost-wax casting. Before the advent of photography, engravings were widely used to reproduce different forms of art such as paintings. Engravings remained common in many books and newspapers until the early 20th century. This is because they were quite cheaper to mass reproduce, when compared with ordinary photo images. Engravings were also widely used as a technique of original artistic expression.

One of the major advantages of engraving is that counterfeiting of an engraved design is impossible owing to the intricate detail that can only be attained by a master engraver.