Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887. He first appeared in the novel A Study in Scarlet and later featured in four novels and 56 short stories. Holmes is a consulting detective known for his extraordinary skills in observation, deduction, forensic science, and logical reasoning, which he uses to solve complex and mysterious crimes

. Holmes lives at 221B Baker Street in Victorian London and often works with his friend and biographer, Dr. John H. Watson. His character is based partly on Doyle's medical professor, Dr. Joseph Bell, who was known for his keen powers of observation and deduction. Holmes's methods influenced the development of forensic science

. He is famous for his intellectual brilliance and his ability to draw significant conclusions from seemingly trivial details. Holmes describes himself as a "consulting detective," assisting clients and even Scotland Yard with difficult cases. Despite being fictional, Holmes has become one of the most enduring and widely portrayed characters in literature and media

. Key characters in the stories include Holmes's loyal companion Dr. Watson, his brother Mycroft Holmes, and his arch-nemesis Professor James Moriarty

. Sherlock Holmes remains a cultural icon and a prototype for the modern detective in fiction.