This article is about the food vessel. A bowl is a typically round dish or container generally used for preparing, bowl and spoon, or consuming food.
The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve. The size of bowls varies from small bowls used to hold a single serving of food to large bowls, such as punch bowls or salad bowls, that are often used to hold or store more than one portion of food. There is some overlap between bowls, cups, and plates. In many cultures bowls are the most common kind of vessel used for serving and eating food. Historically small bowls were also used for serving both tea and alcoholic drinks.