The fictional people J.R.R. Tolkien created as small, peaceful inhabitants of Middle-earth are Hobbits.
Hobbits are central to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They are described as short, country-dwelling people who value comfort, good food, gardens, family history, and a quiet life. Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took are among Tolkien’s best-known hobbit characters.
Most hobbits live in the Shire, a region in the north-west of Middle-earth. Their small size and ordinary habits contrast with the scale of the quests they undertake. Bilbo and Frodo in particular become involved in events involving dragons, rings, ancient kingdoms, and the struggle against Sauron.
Hobbits are sometimes casually called halflings, but that term can also be used more broadly in Tolkien’s writings and by other peoples in the story. Ents are tree-like beings, while Elves and Dwarves are distinct peoples with different histories and cultures.