Katakana is one of the three main writing systems used in Japan, alongside Hiragana and Kanji. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a specific sound. Katakana is primarily used for writing foreign words, names, and onomatopoeia, making it essential for understanding modern Japanese, especially in contexts like advertising and technology. Unlike Hiragana, which is used for native Japanese words, Katakana gives a distinct visual style to borrowed terms. For example, the English word "computer" is written as コンピュータ (konpyūta) in Katakana. This system helps Japanese speakers easily recognize and pronounce foreign concepts while maintaining the flow of their language.