Communication is the process by which individuals use symbols and behaviors to exchange information, share meaning, and develop relationships. It is defined by six key characteristics: communication is symbolic, uses a shared code, is linked to culture, is intentional, is mediated through a channel, and is transactional between a sender and receiver. Effective communication serves important functions like building affiliation, achieving goals, and influencing others. How people perceive and interpret communication is influenced by their selection of information to attend to, organization of that information, and assignment of meaning. Language is the system of symbols used to think and communicate, but it also presents challenges due to issues of semantics, pragmatics, labeling, biases, and different contexts.