The abacus is an ancient calculating tool consisting of a frame with rods and movable beads, used for performing arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Common types include the Chinese abacus (Suanpan), Japanese abacus (Soroban), and Russian abacus (Schoty), each with a unique bead configuration. Beyond its historical significance, the abacus is valued in education for enhancing cognitive skills, improving concentration, and developing a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. Its use helps learners visualize numbers and place values, and with practice, it can significantly boost mental calculation speed and accuracy.