Rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion; manager Phil Harvey is also credited as a full member. The group are known for their live performances and have had a significant impact on popular culture.

The band initially went by the names Big Fat Noises and Starfish. Following the independent release of the EP Safety (1998), they signed a record deal with Parlophone in 1999 and issued their debut album, Parachutes (2000), which included the breakthrough single "Yellow"; the album won a Brit Award for British Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The follow-up, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), earned the same accolades. X&Y (2005) concluded what Coldplay viewed as a trilogy, and its successor, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), secured a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album; both releases topped the charts in over 30 countries, becoming the best-sellers of their respective years worldwide. Viva la Vidas title track was the first song by a British act to reach number one in the United States and United Kingdom simultaneously in the 21st century.

The albums Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019), Music of the Spheres (2021) and Moon Music (2024) drew from genres such as electronica, R&B, ambient, disco, funk, gospel, blues and progressive rock. A documentary directed by Mat Whitecross, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams, was released in 2018, Coldplays 20th anniversary. Their 2021 single "My Universe" was the first song by a British group to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and their Music of the Spheres World Tour is the most-attended tour of all time and the first by a group to collect $1 billion. Coldplay are involved in philanthropy, politics and activism, supporting numerous humanitarian projects and donating 10% of their profits to charity.