Tao or Dao (, ; ) is a Chinese concept signifying 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'. Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, The Tao is the intuitive knowing of "life" that of which cannot be grasped full-heartedly as just a concept but known nonetheless through actual living experience of one's everyday being.

Cao is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname  (Cáo).

Tao is a metaphysical concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy.