Laser engraving is a fairly modern technique that allows patterns, designs and letters to be engraved, or etched, into the surface of a material such as metal, plastic or wood. The difference between laser engraving and other engraving techniques is that laser engraving is typically controlled by a computer, allowing for a very efficient and precise process. Laser engraving typically has little to no waste.

The main elements of the the laser engraving process are the laser itself, a computer for control and the material being engraved. Laser engraving typically uses a very fine beam laser, often less than millimeter wide. The laser heats up the surface of the material being engraved, causing it to vaporize or flake off. The computer provides the pre-programmed instructions for where the laser is to be pointed, and controls the design exactly. With the right laser controller elements in place, laser engraving can be made to be very fast and precise.

Examples of uses of laser engraving include:

- Systems to very rapidly engrave dates, lot numbers or other information onto products transversing production line
- Laser engraving machines to produce customized consumer products such as etched nameplates or dog tags
- Wood products which use laser engraving to etch a very precise design (such as photo picture frames)
- Using laser engraving to add logos or brand names to promotional items (such as pens) for business

Laser engraving systems are available for at-home hobbyists, higher feature models for artists and professionals, and also as complete systems for larger industrial or mass production uses. A wide variety of laser engraving services are also available for those looking for solutions to one-time projects, or for those would not get enough use out of owning a laser engraving machine itself.