A carrier-based aircraft (also known as carrier-capable aircraft, carrier-borne aircraft, carrier aircraft or aeronaval aircraft) is a navalised aircraft designed for seaborne flight operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to shipborne fixed-wing aircraft that require a runway of some sort for takeoff and landing, as VTOL aircraft such as helicopters are inherently capable of adapting to flight operations from a wide variety of ships (not just aircraft carriers) as long as the served vessel is equipped with helipads or a sufficiently spacious deck that can provide a reliable landing area, which include helicopter carriers, amphibious assault ships, aviation-capable surface combatants (cruisers, destroyers, frigates and some corvettes), container ships and even cruiseliners.

Carrier-based aircraft are designed for many purposes including aerial combat, surface attack, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue (SAR), carrier onboard delivery (COD), weather observation, reconnaissance and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C). Such aircraft must be able to take off from the short distance available on the carrier's flight deck and be sturdy enough to withstand the abrupt forces exerted by on a pitching deck due to sea waves. Some modern carrier aircraft are designed for catapult-assisted takeoffs and thus also need to be constructed more robust airframes and landing gears that can handle sudden forward accelerations. Arrestor hook is mandatory feature for those designed for CATOBAR or STOBAR landing, while thrust vectoring or tiltrotor nacelles are commonly seen in those capable of V/STOL operations. In addition, their wings are generally larger (thus can generate more lift) than the land-launched counterparts, and are typically able to fold up or swing back for taxiing, pushback and parking in tight quarters.

Carrier-based combat aircraft constitute the core offensive capability of a carrier battle group, allowing the fleet to project firepower far beyond the radius of action of conventional naval guns, rocket artillery and guided missiles. The ability to operate aircraft directly from a carrier is also a testament of modern blue-water navy, as the capacity to achieve air supremacy and air interdiction from anywhere at sea has been a hallmark of naval combined arms and command of the sea since aircraft carriers reigned supreme as capital ships during the Second World War.

The 1903 advent of fixed-wing aircraft was followed in 1910 by the first flight of an aircraft from the deck of an anchored warship (the United States Navy's USS Birmingham), and in 1912, by the first flight of an aircraft from the deck of a warship underway (the Royal Navy's HMS Hibernia). Seaplanes and seaplane tender support ships, such as HMS Engadine, followed. This evolution was well underway by the early 1920s, resulting in ships such as HMS Argus (1918), Hōshō (1922), USS Langley (1922), and Béarn (1927). With these developments, the need for specialized aircraft adapted for take-offs and landings from the flight decks of those ships became recognized.^{[citation needed]}

The significance of air power grew between the wars, driven by the increased range, carrying power, and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft, until it became impossible to disregard its importance during World War II, following the loss of many warships to aircraft, including the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, the Battle of Taranto, the Attack on Pearl Harbor and numerous other incidents. Following the war, carrier operations continued to increase in size and importance.

The vital importance of aircraft carriers, and therefore carrier-capable aircraft, quickly became apparent at the onset of the war in the Pacific where the US's island hopping campaign meant that being able to conduct air operations at sea far from an airbase was crucially important. At the onset Japan used 125 Mitsubishi A6M Zeros launched from 6 aircraft carriers to attack the Naval base at Pearl Harbor, with the result of sinking or damaging 21 warships, and destroying 188 aircraft. The war saw the creation of new carrier capable aircraft such as the Vought F4U Corsair, and further variants of the Zero. Often carrier aircraft would have folding wings or wingtips to maximise space conservation on the decks of carriers.

Carrier aircraft were used extensively during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Douglas A-4 Skyhawks participated in the first strikes of the Vietnam War in response to attacks against American destroyers in the Tonkin Gulf in August 1964. The A-4's small size and light weight meant a high number could be loaded onto carriers, making them an important resource during the Vietnam war.

Early carrier-based aircraft are light aircraft by modern standards, and can perform takeoff and landing from an aircraft carrier's flight deck. Up to World War II, the weight of most shipborne fixed-wing aircraft allowed them to be launched from carriers under their own engine power, but might require assistance in braking the aircraft upon landing. Early aircraft catapults were installed on some warships but were used only to launch seaplanes when the ship was stationary or adequate wind over the deck could not be arranged by sailing into the wind. Even aircraft as large as the North American B-25 Mitchell were launched in this manner. This was possible because the ship's speed with even the lightest prevailing winds, combined with a low take-off speed allowed early aircraft to gain flying speed in a very short distance. The most extreme version of this was the battleship platforms used during the 1920s when small, World War I-era biplane fighters such as the Sopwith Camel were launched from only a few dozen feet long mounted atop of a battleship's forward gun turret.