While almost any food served before a main course is considered an appetizer, the term "hors d'oeuvre" generally reserved for items that aren't cheese, fruit, and/or crudites (raw bite-sized vegetables served with a dipping sauce). When catered, appetizers can be either served hot, or cold depending on the item and the tastes of the guests.

Some other types of appetizers are Canapes (small piece of bread or toast served with caviar or cheese), Snack Foods, Cold Cuts (like beef, turkey, or chicken), Sausages, Dumplings (either hot or cold), and Bruschetta (grilled bread with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper). Appetizers exist all over the world, but generally under their own culture's name. In Italy, appetizers are called "antipasto" ('before meal'), "meze" in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, "leng pan" in China, "zakushi" in Russia, "picaditas" in Argentinas, "pasabocas" in Columbia, "pasapingas" in Venezula, "boquitas" in Honduras, "bontanas" in Mexico, "entradas" in Chile, "bocaditos" in Peru, and "tapas" in Spain.