Some important terms and background information for Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. They will each be broken down into separate topics, as was written on the Japanese webpage. This will help your knowledge of the series and make things even more fun, along with increasing your comprehension of their world.

Magic:
The magic in this world is split into three main classifications: "Transformation," "Movement," and "Illusion." "Transformation" makes materials change their make-up, shape and properties. "Movement" physically causes movement of the molecules and particles of various bodies of matter. "Illusion" affects and manipulates people's hearts. "Magic Users" (or a magical girl in this case) combine these three types of magic and adjust them, making their own various kinds of magic through "programming." Also, in this world, the magic user's "Magical Stick" is their "Hard Disk Magic Program Installer." It stores previous successful magic programs they've used, gradually allowing the magic user to use more and more magic.

Incantation:
An incantation is the password needed for activating one's magic. One creates the word on her own, and any word, as long as it is a word is fine. So most people don't mess up activating it, it's normal for someone to pick a word that they'd never use in any normal everyday conversation. Nanoha's incantation is "Magical Lyrical."

Transformation?
Strictly speaking, people don't really "transform." Rather, whenever a strong impact or great temperature change occurs, their current clothes will be changed instantaneously into a strong outfit made to endure it. Nanoha and Fate's are called "Barrier Jackets." So, Nanoha's outfit would be strong to protect her entire body, she imagined its design to be very similar to her school uniform.

Jewel Seed:
Blue, shining, beautiful jewels. Through magical science, they're born as crystalline forms and are said to bring good luck to whomever may hold it. They're also said to have the power to be able to grant the holder's "wishes." However, there is a riskiness involved that will sometimes cause the user of it to lose things equally proportionate to the wishes it granted. For those who don't know how to use it properly, this is extremely dangerous. Especially, in the case of someone trying to grant too many wishes so rapidly. That would cause it's condition to go into "overload" status. Those that fall into this condition lose their true nature, and sometimes even their appearance is changed and warped. For those who have fallen into this state, corrective "magic" is needed to turn back to normal.

Magical Staves:
Commonly used by magic users, they are the items where magical programs are installed and activated. Most magic users use them in the shape of a basic stick.

Raging Heart:
Nanoha's Magical Staff. When its in standby mode, it's a red, round jewel. Usually it's worn as a pendant as she goes through her day. By calling out its name, Nanoha can activate it. When she does use it, there are three main categories of usage. There's the normal "Device Mode", the "Shooting Mode" that allows her to shoot with it from long distances, and her "Sealing Mode" that allows her to seal away her Jewel Seed or to emit an incredibly large amount of power to its maximum extent to seal something else. The light it gives off is a pure cherry blossom color. Whenever she orders it to do something, an electronical voice will respond to her.