CBBC (a contraction of the original name Children's BBC) is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14. Today, CBBC is joined by two dedicated digital channels, launched in 2002 and using the same brands and presentation and the programme strands.

CBBC is the name given to the digital channel for children aged 6–12, and also the brand used for CBBC programming on BBC One and BBC Two. CBeebies is the digital channel for children aged under 6, and also airs its own strand on BBC One and Two. In 2006, as part of the BBCs Creative Futures strategic review, the CBBC brand was redefined as being for children aged 6–12. A new brand for teenagers, BBC Switch, was launched in 2007 and ended in 2010, though this did not have a dedicated channel and was not part of the BBC Children's division.

CBBC currently broadcasts as a 12-hour-a-day digital channel (the CBBC Channel) available on most UK digital platforms from 7am to 7pm. The brand is also used for the broadcast of children's programmes on BBC One (weekday afternoons) and BBC Two (mornings, daily), although these strands are to be phased out by the end of 2012, as part of the BBC's "Delivering Quality First" cost-cutting initiative. CBBC programmes are also broadcast in high definition alongside other BBC content on the BBC HD channel, generally from 3:30pm to 7pm on weekends, unless the channel is covering other events. BBC-produced children's programming, in native languages of Scotland and Wales, also airs on BBC Alba and S4C respectively.

CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different channel position from BBC Three. CBeebies is its sister service for younger children.

The channel was named Channel of the Year at the Children's BAFTA awards in November 2008.

The CBBC strand was originally launched on 9th September 1985 on BBC One, and was eventually launched as a separate channel running alongside the strand in 2002. It launched on all major platforms, however had to share bandwidth with another channel on the DTT platform: this was initially BBC Knowledge on the ITV Digital platform, however following their collapse, the channel shared bandwidth with BBC Choice on the replacement system Freeview. In both cases, the channels could be accessed by separate numbers.

From launch, the channel was notably separate from the strand it was created from. While on screen both used the same logos and many of the same presenters, the studios were different: the new channel using TC2 while the strand used the purpose built TC9. TC2 however was shared by the channel so other programmes, such as short Newsround bulletins, as well as the magazine show Xchange also came from the studio.