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Streetcars, also known as trams or trolleycars, are electric passenger vehicles that operate on urban street tracks. They typically share road space with other vehicles but may run on dedicated lanes or separate rights of way. The term streetcar is common in North America, while tram is widely used in Europe and many other regions; trolley is used in parts of the United States and Canada.

The modern streetcar emerged from earlier horse-drawn streetcars in the 19th century. The advent of electric traction in the 1880s, highlighted by Frank J. Sprague’s system in Richmond, Virginia, enabled more reliable and higher-capacity service. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many cities built extensive streetcar networks. By mid-century, automobile growth and bus competition led to widespread reductions or eliminations of lines in numerous places. Some networks were replaced outright, while others were modernized or repurposed as part of broader transit systems.

Technology and operation typically rely on electricity supplied through overhead wires and collected by trolley poles or pantographs. Some modern systems experiment with ground-level power supply or onboard batteries to reduce overhead infrastructure. Rolling stock ranges from preserved heritage streetcars to modern low-floor vehicles designed for street operation. Tracks are usually embedded in or aligned with city streets, with services often sharing lanes and proceeding through mixed traffic, though some routes use dedicated lanes and traffic signal priority.

In the contemporary transit landscape, streetcars are part of urban renewal and sustainable transport strategies in many cities. They are frequently integrated with bus networks, regional rail, and pedestrian-oriented planning, and remain a distinct yet evolving mode alongside light rail and tram systems.