This table summarizes all Hebrew scripts relevant to those who wants to learn the language. In fact, you will probably only need the Square Script and the Cursive (handwriting.)

Besides those present in the table, there is also a Samaritan script, which is a variation of the ancient script, and is only used by a small Samaritan community in Israel (about 600 community members.)

Handwriting scripts

Besides the "square" script, we have, of course, a handwriting script:

Same phrase written in different scripts:

To make a long story short, initially Hebrew (and any other Semitic) alphabet contained only consonants. But at some point (somewhere 3000 years ago) writing "just consonants" became not sufficient. Gradually, the ancient Hebrews and Phoenicians started to use some of the consonant letters for the indication of long vowels.

Usually diacritic marks are written under/above/inside the letter after which they are pronounced. (There are some exceptions, however.)

There are 4 categories of vowels in Hebrew:

This page summarizes the Hebrew alphabet, explaining in brief the pronunciation of each letter, telling the story of Hebrew letters and how they correspond to modern Western alphabets, and so on.