Dough is a paste made out of any cereals (grains) or leguminous crops by mixing flour with a small amount of water and/or other liquid. This process is a precursor to making a wide variety of foodstuffs, particularly breads and bread-based items (e.g., crusts, dumplings), flatbreads, noodles, pastry, pizza and similar items. This includes all kinds of breads or similar recipes made from maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, and other cereals or related crops used around the world.

In many parts of central India, people use the quick method of making an instant roasted dough ball or baati. In countries in the Sahel region of Africa, ground and boiled dough balls (made from sorghum or millet) are called aiysh or biya, but are not roasted. Flatbreads such as lafa, lavash, matzah or matzo, naan, roti, sangak, tortilla, or yufka are used in many parts of the world. Some flatbreads, such as naan and roti, use leavening agents; others such, as matzo, are not leavened.