Calligraphy (from Ancient Greek καλλιγραφία (kalligraphía) 'beautiful writing') is a visual art related to writing. It involves the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instruments. Contemporary calligraphic practice is often defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious, and skillful manner".
In East Asia and the Islamic world, calligraphy is a highly respected art form. Its visual form is often influenced by the meaning of the text or the individual words.