Imaginary friends, also known as "imaginary companions", are pretend characters often created sa pamamagitan ng children. Imaginary mga kaibigan often function as tutelaries (or perform a tutelary function) when they are engaged sa pamamagitan ng the child in play activity. Imaginary mga kaibigan may exist for the child into adolescence and sometimes adulthood. Imaginary mga kaibigan often have elaborate personalities and behaviors. Although they may seem very real to their creators, studies have shown that children understand that their imaginary mga kaibigan are not real.