A handbag is a bag with handles or straps that people carry to hold personal items like wallets, keys, phones, and other everyday necessities. While anyone can carry a handbag, they're most commonly used by women and girls as both a practical accessory and a fashion statement.

Handbags come in countless styles, from small clutches you hold in your hand to large totes you can sling over your shoulder. Some are made of leather, others of fabric or synthetic materials. A student might carry a simple canvas bag to hold their lunch and library books, while a parent might have a structured leather handbag for work that matches their professional outfits.

The word “handbag” is more common in British English, while Americans often say purse instead. Throughout history, people have carried small bags for their belongings, but the modern handbag as we know it became popular in the 1800s when pockets in women's clothing became less common.

Some designer handbags become so famous and expensive that they're treated almost like works of art, with certain styles passed down through families as valuable possessions.