Target Corporation, usually known simply as Target, is an American retailing company that was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902 as the Dayton Dry Goods Company. In 1962, the company opened its first Target store in nearby Roseville. The Target store concept grew and eventually became the largest division of Dayton Hudson, culminating in the company changing its name to Target Corporation in 2000.

Target is the second largest discount retailer in the United States, after Walmart.

Target Corporation competes directly against other discount retailers, mainly Wal-Mart and Kmart. Since its founding in 1962, it has intended to differentiate its stores from its competitors by offering what it believes is more upscale, trend-forward merchandise at low cost, as opposed to the traditional concept of focusing on low-priced goods.

Some people enjoy giving Target the pseudo-French pronunciation tar-zhay, as though it were an upscale boutique.

Target refers to itself as a "discount department store" instead of just a discount store.Target does not play any music in their stores. Target also does not promote items or services through its public address system. Target designs its stores to be more attractive than Wal-Mart, and other large box-department stores by having wider aisles, drop ceilings, a more attractive presentation of merchandise and generally cleaner fixtures. In addition, special attention is given to the design of the store environment: Graphics reinforce Target's advertising imagery and shelves are dressed with contemporary signage, backdrops and liners, often printed on inexpensive material such as paper, corrugated and foam boards. Some stores—particularly those in the vicinity of major airports—have a bullseye painted on the roof that can be seen from above: the stores in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington National Airport; Rosemont, Illinois, near O'Hare International Airport