Communication is the act of sharing information, ideas, or feelings with others. When you explain your science project to your class, write a thank-you note to your grandmother, or text a friend about meeting at the park, you're communicating.

Communication takes many forms beyond just talking. You communicate through writing, gestures, facial expressions, and even drawings. A raised eyebrow can communicate doubt. A smile communicates friendliness. A stop sign communicates a command without using any words at all.

Good communication means making yourself clearly understood. If you tell your friend “meet me later,” that's communication, but not very good communication because “later” could mean anything. Saying “meet me at 3:00 by the front entrance” communicates the same idea much more effectively.

Communication always involves at least two parts: someone sending a message and someone receiving it. When communication breaks down, it's often because the sender wasn't clear, the receiver wasn't paying attention, or both. Two people can talk past each other without really communicating at all if neither one listens carefully to what the other is saying.

Scientists who study animal behavior have discovered that many animals communicate in sophisticated ways. Bees dance to show other bees where to find flowers, wolves howl to coordinate with their pack, and whales sing songs across vast ocean distances.