Algebraic notation is the universal standard for recording chess moves. Each move typically consists of the piece abbreviation (K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, N for knight; pawns have no letter) followed by the destination square. Captures are indicated by "x", castling by O-O (kingside) or O-O-O (queenside), and check by "+".
When two identical pieces can move to the same square, disambiguation is needed: the file letter, rank number, or both are added after the piece abbreviation. For example, Rae1 means the rook from the a-file moves to e1, distinguishing it from another rook that could also reach e1.
Other notation systems exist historically (descriptive notation was standard in English-speaking countries until the 1980s) and in specific regions, but algebraic notation has been the FIDE standard since 1981 and is used almost universally today. Figurine algebraic notation uses piece symbols instead of letters, eliminating language-specific abbreviations.