Azkaban is the fictional wizard prison created by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series.
Azkaban is located on an island in the North Sea and is used by the Ministry of Magic to imprison witches and wizards convicted of crimes. In the earlier books, Dementors serve as guards. These creatures drain hope and happiness from nearby people, making the prison especially feared.
The prison’s name first becomes important when Hagrid explains that Sirius Black escaped from it. Later books reveal more about Azkaban, its history, and the Ministry’s changing use of Dementors. After the Second Wizarding War, Kingsley Shacklebolt becomes Minister for Magic and Dementors are no longer used as prison guards.
Azkaban should not be confused with Nurmengard, another wizarding prison associated with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are schools of magic, not prisons. The name “Azkaban” is generally understood as an invented blend influenced by Alcatraz and the Hebrew word “Abaddon,” although the novels do not provide a full linguistic explanation.