A kite is a kind of heavy object tied to the air. Its wing surface will react with the air, resulting in lift and drag. The kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. A kite usually has a string and tail to guide the surface of the kite so that the wind can lift it. Some kite designs do not require don ropes; boxed kites can have a fixed point. A kite may have fixed or moving anchors that can balance the kite. A technical definition is that a kite is "a collection of tether coupled wings.".

When the air moves around the surface of the kite, it will generate the lift to support the kite flying, which will generate low pressure above the wing and high pressure below the wing. The interaction with the wind also produces horizontal resistance in the direction of the wind. The resultant force vector from the lift and drag forces is the opposite of the tension of one or more wires or lanyards to which the kite is attached. The anchor point of the kite line can be static or moving (for example, a running person, a boat, a paraglider and an escaped paratrooper or a freely falling anchor point in a vehicle towing a kite).

The flow principle of the fluid in the liquid is the same, so the kite can be used in the underwater flow, but it has not been used in daily.

For reconnaissance, entertainment and the development of the first practical aircraft biplane, a kite is raised manually.

Kites have a long and diverse history, flying kites alone on festivals around the world. Kite flying can be used for entertainment, art or other practical purposes. Sport kites can fly in air ballet, sometimes as part of a competition. Power kites are multi line maneuverable kites designed to generate greater power and can be used to provide power for activities such as surfing kites, kite landing, kite fishing, cross-country vehicles and snow kites.