Reading a persons palm to divine information about their future is called palmistry, chiromancy, or chirology. There are several cultural variants of the behaviour, but it is widespread. People who engage in the practise of chiromancy are often referred to by various names, including palmist, hand reader, hand analyst, and chirologist.

Its important to keep in mind that the many different schools of palmistry all have their own, often contradictory, explanations for the meanings of the various lines and palmar features. The Brahmins of Hinduism use palmistry, and it is also alluded to in the Book of Job. As a result of the discrepancies between various interpretations and the absence of proof for palmistrys predictions, it is generally considered to be a form of pseudoscience in the academic community.