Gandalf is the wizard who guides Bilbo and the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
Gandalf visits Bilbo Baggins in the Shire and helps set in motion the quest to reclaim the Dwarves’ homeland, the Lonely Mountain. He recruits Bilbo as the company’s burglar and travels with the group for much of the adventure.
In Tolkien’s wider mythology, Gandalf is one of the Istari, supernatural beings sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. His older identity is the Maia Olórin, and he is also known by names such as Mithrandir and Gandalf the Grey.
Gandalf is sometimes confused with Saruman because both are powerful wizards and members of the Istari. Their roles diverge sharply: Saruman becomes corrupted by the desire for power, while Gandalf remains committed to resisting Sauron and later returns as Gandalf the White.