Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, has traditionally meant speaking in person to a live audience. Today it includes speaking, formally or informally, to an audience through technology — live, pre-recorded, or at a distance.

Confucius, the philosopher and public speaking scholar, thought a good speech should impact individual lives, regardless of whether they were in the audience. He believed that someone of power could influence the world with words and action.

Public speaking has many purposes, but usually mixes teaching, persuasion, and entertaining. Each purpose calls on slightly different approaches and techniques.

Public speaking was studied in Ancient Greece and Rome, where prominent thinkers analyzed it as a central part of rhetoric. Today, the art of public speaking has been transformed by technology, such as videoconferencing, multimedia presentations, and other non-traditional forms of presentation.