Bacteria are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among the first life forms to appear on Earth, and are present in most of its habitats. Bacteria inhabit soil, water, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, and the deep biosphere of Earth's crust. Bacteria play a vital role in many stages of the nutrient cycle by recycling nutrients and the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere. The nutrient cycle includes the decomposition of dead bodies; bacteria are responsible for the putrefaction stage in this process. In the biological communities surrounding hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, extremophile bacteria provide the nutrients needed to sustain life by converting dissolved compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide and methane, to energy. Bacteria also live in mutualistic, commensal and parasitic relationships with plants and animals. Most bacteria have not been characterised and there are many species that cannot be grown in the laboratory. The study of bacteria is known as bacteriology, a branch of microbiology.

जीवाणु (Bacteria) सूक्ष्म जीव हैं जो प्रायः एककोशिकीय होते हैं। ये अकेन्द्रिक, कोशिका भित्तियुक्त, एककोशकीय सरल जीव हैं और प्रायः सर्वत्र पाये जाते हैं। इनका आकार कुछ मिलिमीटर तक ही होता हैं। इनकी आकृति गोल या मुक्त-चक्राकार से लेकर छड़ आदि के आकार की हो सकती हैं। ये पृथ्वी पर मिट्टी में, अम्लीय, गर्म जल-धाराओं में, नाभिकीय पदार्थों में, जल में, भू-पपड़ी में, यहां तक की कार्बनिक पदार्थों में तथा पौधौं एवं जन्तुओं के शरीर के भीतर भी पाये जाते हैं। साधारणतः एक ग्राम मिट्टी में ४ करोड़ जीवाणु कोष तथा १ मिलीलीटर जल में १० लाख जीवाणु पाए जाते हैं।