The Nintendo DS, short for "Nintendo Dual Screen," is a handheld gaming console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in 2004 and quickly became one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time, selling over 154 million units worldwide. The Nintendo DS introduced several innovative features, including dual screens, touchscreen controls, and wireless connectivity, which revolutionized portable gaming and paved the way for future handheld devices.