焦炭是一种低杂质的高碳含量燃料，一般为煤炭破坏蒸馏或焦煤干馏后残存的固态产物。形态呈不规则块状，富含大小不等的气孔结构，质地坚硬，颜色为银灰或黑色。焦炭主要成分是碳元素，含少量氢、氧、氮、硫及少量其它元素。焦炭主要用于冶金工业，是高炉冶炼的重要原料；同时也被广泛用于铸造行业，少量也被化肥或燃气工业用于制造水煤气，近年来也有焦炭应用于电弧炉炼钢操作。

目前生产焦炭的方式主要有室式炼焦炉和无回收焦炉（或称热回收焦炉、清洁焦炉等）。总体上，炼焦生产会给环境带来诸多压力，如空气及水资源的污染。中国目前是焦炭产量最大的国家，2007年产量约为3.3亿吨，约占世界总产量的60%。

Coke is a fuel with few impurities and a high carbon content, usually made from coal. It is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes made from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made. The form known as petroleum coke, or pet coke, is derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes.