σ键是价键理论和分子轨道理论中一种化学键的名称。由两个相同或不相同的原子轨道沿轨道对称轴方向相互重叠而形成的共价键，叫做σ键。一般的“单键”都属于这种σ键，比如C-H, O-H, N-H, C-C, C-Cl等等。

由两个相同或不相同的原子轨道沿轨道对称轴方向相互重叠而形成的共价键，叫做σ键。σ键是原子轨道沿轴方向重叠而形成的，具有较大的重叠程度，因此σ键比较稳定。σ键是能围绕对称轴旋转，而不影响键的强度以及键跟键之间的角度（键角）。根据分子轨道理论，两个原子轨道充分接近后，能通过原子轨道的线性组合，形成两个分子轨道。其中，能量低于原来原子轨道的分子轨道叫成键轨道，能量高于原来原子轨道的分子轨道叫反键轨道。以核间轴为对称轴的成键轨道叫σ轨道，相应的键叫σ键。以核间轴为对称轴的反键轨道叫σ*轨道，相应的键叫σ*键。分子在基态时，构成化学键的电子通常处在成键轨道中，而让反键轨道空着。

In chemistry, sigma bonds (σ bonds) are the strongest type of covalent chemical bond. They are formed by head-on overlapping between atomic orbitals. Sigma bonding is most simply defined for diatomic molecules using the language and tools of symmetry groups. In this formal approach, a σ-bond is symmetrical with respect to rotation about the bond axis. By this definition, common forms of sigma bonds are s+s, p_z+p_z, s+p_z and d_z+d_z (where z is defined as the axis of the bond). Quantum theory also indicates that molecular orbitals (MO) of identical symmetry actually mix or hybridize. As a practical consequence of this mixing of diatomic molecules, the wavefunctions s+s and p_z+p_z molecular orbitals become blended. The extent of this mixing (or hybridization or blending) depends on the relative energies of the MO's of like symmetry.