A novella is a work of narrative fiction that is shorter than most novels but longer than most short stories. There is no official definition regarding the number of pages or words necessary for a story to be considered a novella, a short story, or a novel. However, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association defines a novellas word count to be between 17,500 and 40,000 words. A novella typically features more conflicts and plot development than a short story, but fewer subplots than a novel. Novellas may be intended to be read at a single sitting, like short stories, and thus produce a unitary effect on the reader.

The term "novella" comes from the Italian word for "new". Novellas originated in Italy during the Middle Ages and were based on local events that were humorous, political, or amorous in nature. The individual tales often were gathered into collections along with anecdotes, legends, and romantic tales. Novellas later evolved into a psychologically subtle and highly structured short tale, often using a frame story to unify the tales around a common theme. Novellas influenced the development of the short story and the novel throughout Europe.

Examples of novellas include "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, and "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka.