He's is a contraction, a shortened way of saying either “he is” or “he has.” English speakers combine these two words into one to make sentences flow more naturally in everyday speech and informal writing.

When you say “He's my best friend,” you're saying “he is.” When you say “He's been practicing piano all week,” you're saying “he has.” Your ear usually tells you which meaning fits: if you can replace he's with “he is” and the sentence sounds right, that's what it means. If only “he has” works, that's your answer.

Contractions like he's make English sound more natural and conversational. Compare “He is going to the store” with “He's going to the store.” Both are correct, but the second sounds like how people actually talk.

Writers use contractions in dialogue to make characters sound realistic, and in informal writing like emails or texts. In formal writing like research papers or business reports, many people avoid contractions and write out both words fully. Understanding when to use he's versus writing “he is” or “he has” helps you match your language to the situation, whether you're texting a friend or writing an essay for school.