Brahmi refers to the pre-modern members of the Brahmic family of scripts, attested from the 5th century BC. The best known inscriptions in Brahmi are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka, c. 3rd century BC.

It is generally believed to be derived from a Semitic script . Rhys Davids suggests that writing may have been introduced to India from the Middle East by traders.

A minority position holds Indus script to be the predecessor of the Brahmi script.