Crossword puzzles are word puzzle and word search games that are usually in the form of squares or rectangular boxes that are white and black. The object of the game is to fill the white squares with letters, form words or phrases, by solving clues, which lead to answers. In languages ​​written from left to right, the answer words and phrases are placed in boxes from left to right and from top to bottom. The shaded box is used to separate words or phrases.

Traditional crosswords consist of black and white squares, called lattices. All white squares appear in horizontal rows or vertical columns, but are not always separated by black squares. Another way of saying this is that each white box must have at least one other white box that touches it on either side. The types of crosswords that appear in newspapers and magazines, such as those in pictures, often have lots of white boxes next to each other.

The aim of solving the puzzle is to write different words, letter-by-letter, in the white box. Next to the grid is a list of instructions. The answer to each hint is a word or sometimes a phrase.

There are many types of crosswords. Straight (or Fast) crosswords usually consist of simple definitions - meaning that other words are used to describe the answer. Some crosswords, called cryptic crosswords, use puzzles and word games and are usually more difficult than straight crosswords.