Graffiti(singular:graffito;thepluralisusedasamassnoun)isthenameforimagesorletteringscratched,scrawled,paintedormarkedinanymanneronproperty.Graffitiisanytypeofpublicmarkingsthatmayappearintheformsofsimplewrittenwordstoelaboratewallpaintings.Graffitihasexistedsinceancienttimes,withexamplesdatingbacktoAncientGreeceandtheRomanEmpire.

　　Inmoderntimes,paint,particularlyspraypaint,andmarkerpenshavebecomethemostcommonlyusedgraffitimaterials.Inmostcountries,markingorpaintingpropertywithoutthepropertyowner'sconsentisconsidereddefacementandvandalism,whichisapunishablecrime.Sometimesgraffitiexpressessocialandpoliticalmessagesandawholegenreofartisticexpressionisbaseduponspraypaintgraffitistyles.Tosome,itisanartformworthyofdisplayingalleriesandexhibitions;toothersitismerelyvandalism.Graffitihasevolvedintoapopcultureexistenceoftenrelatedtoundergroundhiphopmusic,b-boying,andalifestylethatremainshiddenfromthegeneralpublic.Graffiticanbeusedasagangsignaltomarkterritoryortoserveasanindicatoror"tag"forgang-relatedactivity.