A wharf is a paved area along a stretch of shoreline, usually at a calculated elevation from the water to allow for loading and unloading of ship cargo as well as embarkment and disembarkment of boat passengers. Wharves can be built along rivers as well as lakes, seas, and oceans. They should not be confused with piers, which are structures that project out over the water, usually perpendicular to the shore.

The paved area provides access between the land and vessels alongside it. That waterside transfer function distinguishes it from a plaza or a paved waterfront used only for walking and gathering.

A wharf can support cargo handling or passenger boarding without having a particular kind of terminal building. Its position along the shoreline is the distinction from a projecting pier in this definition; the local names quay, dock, and jetty can have overlapping uses.