Updated: August 03, 2023

Science fiction ( sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF ) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, extraterrestrial life, sentient artificial intelligence, cybernetics, certain forms of immortality ( like mind uploading ), and the singularity. Science fiction predicted several existing inventions, such as the atomic bomb, robots, and borazon, whose names entirely match their fictional predecessors. In addition, science fiction might serve as an outlet to facilitate future scientific and technological innovations.

Science fiction can trace its roots to ancient mythology. It is also related to fantasy, horror, and superhero fiction and contains many subgenres. Its exact definition has long been disputed among authors, critics, scholars, and readers. Science fiction, in literature, film, television, and other media, has become popular and influential over much of the world, It has been called the "literature of ideas", and often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations. It is also often said to inspire a "sense of wonder". Besides providing entertainment, it can also criticize present-day society and explore alternatives.