Gaara is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles. He was created as a foil to the series' titular character, Naruto Uzumaki, with both having similar backgrounds yet widely different personalities.

In the anime and manga, Gaara is a ninja from the village of Sunagakure, and the son of the Fourth Kazekage, the leader of Sunagakure, and brother to Kankuro and Temari. Due to his traumatic past, Gaara is a ruthless killer, slaying others without remorse and acting cold and distant even with his allies and siblings. His abilities in controlling sand earned him the moniker "Gaara of the Desert". His battle with Naruto in the series changes his outlook on the world; in Part II, he becomes Sunagakure's Fifth Kazekage as a result of Naruto's influence pushing him to aid others. Gaara has appeared in several pieces of Naruto media, including the second featured film in the series, the third original video animation, and several video games.

Numerous anime and manga publications have praised and criticized Gaara's character. His initially sadistic mentality was noted by reviewers; IGN labeled the disparity between Naruto and Gaara as "emotional" and "a tad creepy." The battle between him and Naruto at the conclusion of the Invasion of Konoha arc was particularly celebrated by reviewers, with Anime News Network referring to it as the high point of the entire series. Amongst the Naruto reader base, Gaara has been popular, placing high in several polls. Numerous pieces of merchandise have been released in Gaara's likeness, including plush dolls and key chains.