Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. To most, though, heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and badges.
Historically, it has been variously described as “the shorthand of history” . The
origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in combat when their faces were hidden by iron and steel helmets.Eventually a system of rules
developed into the modern form of heraldry.

The system of blazoning arms that is used today was developed by the officers of arms since the dawn of the art.This includes a description of the escutcheon (shield), the crest, and, if present, supporters, mottoes, and other insignia.

An understanding of these rules is one of the keys to sound practice of heraldry. The rules do differ from country to country, but there are some aspects that carry over in each jurisdiction.

Though heraldry is nearly 900 years old, it is still very much in use. Many cities and towns in Europe and around the world still make use of arms. Personal heraldry, both legally protected and lawfully assumed, has continued to be used around the world. Institutions, companies, and individuals continue to use coats of arms as forms of pictorial identification. There are heraldic authorities in Canada, South Africa, Spain and Sweden that grant or register coats of arms.