蜂巢是指由蜜蜂属所建造的一个封闭结构，作为他们居住以及繁殖后代的地方。自然蜂巢天然存在蜂群之中，如占据树木中空的部分，而家养蜜蜂则被养在养蜂场内的人造蜂巢。这些人造结构通常称为蜂箱。几个品种的蜜蜂住在蜂巢，但只有西方蜜蜂和东方蜜蜂被人类驯化。自然蜂巢的作用跟鸟巢相类，以保护居住在里面的动物。

蜂箱的内部结构是一个密集组制成蜂蜡六角形的构造，称为蜂房，而蜂房里一小个六角形的空间则叫做蜂室。蜜蜂在蜂室内保存食物，例如蜂蜜和花粉，并用来培育后代（卵、幼虫和蛹）。

人工蜂箱有好几个用途：生产蜂蜜、令附近农作物授粉，以至为作为蜜蜂疗法的蜜蜂供应住房，以及为患上蜂群衰竭失调的蜜蜂提供安全的庇护。

A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus Apis live and raise their young. Natural beehives are naturally occurring structures occupied by honeybee colonies, such as hollowed-out trees, while domesticated honeybees live in man-made beehives, often in an apiary. These man-made structures are typically referred to as "beehives". Several species of Apis live in hives, but only the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) are domesticated by humans. A natural beehive is comparable to a bird's nest built with a purpose to protect the dweller.