Headphones are a device you wear on or in your ears to listen to sound privately. They connect to phones, computers, or music players and let you hear audio that no one else around you can hear.

Headphones come in different styles. Some sit over your entire ear like cushioned cups, while others rest on top of your ear. Earbuds are tiny headphones that fit inside your ear canal. Wireless or Bluetooth headphones connect without any cord, while traditional headphones plug directly into your device.

People use headphones to listen to music while walking to school, to watch videos without disturbing others, or to focus on an audiobook in a noisy room. Students might use headphones during independent work time at school. Gamers wear headphones with built-in microphones, called headsets, to communicate with teammates.

The technology works by converting electrical signals into sound waves right next to your eardrums. Quality headphones can make you feel like you're sitting in a concert hall or standing in the middle of a rainstorm. Some headphones even have noise-canceling features that block out background sounds, creating a quiet bubble wherever you are.