A hand sign is a gesture made using the hands to convey a message or meaning without spoken words. These signs can be part of a formal system, such as American Sign Language (ASL), which is used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, or they can be informal gestures that have specific meanings in different cultures. Hand signs can also be used to express emotions, indicate directions, or signal agreement or disagreement. For example, the thumbs-up sign generally means approval, while the peace sign is often associated with peace movements. Understanding hand signs can enhance communication in various social contexts.