A noodle is a type of food with a thin and elongated shape made from unleavened dough that is cooked in a boiling liquid. Depending upon the type, noodles may be dried or refrigerated before cooking. The word derives from the German Nudel (noodle) and may be related to the Latin word nodus (knot).

The oldest known noodles were found in China at the Qijia culture Lajia site in Qinghai, Shandong province. The 4,000-year-old noodles appear to have been made from foxtail millet and broomcorn millet.