doodles

Doodles are informal drawings or marks made while attention is otherwise engaged. They are typically unplanned and spontaneous, often created in margins of notes, during lectures, meetings, or phone calls. Doodles can range from simple shapes and patterns to more recognizable images. The term doodle has been used in English since the 18th century; its precise origin is unclear.

Doodles can be produced with pencils, pens, markers, or digital tools. They span a spectrum from abstract geometric patterns to representational sketches. Some artists and designers study doodling as a form of visual thinking or a source of inspiration, while others use more formal practices such as Zentangle or doodle-based journaling. Doodling also appears in graffiti and street-art contexts, though authorship and cultural meaning vary widely.

Cognitive and educational perspectives suggest doodling during listening can help memory and learning for some people by providing a low-level distraction that permits focus on the primary task. In everyday life, doodling can serve as a tactile outlet, a way to explore ideas, or a means of self-expression. Digital doodling has expanded the practice to smartphones and tablets, enabling quick sketches, annotations, and collaborative drawing.