What is an Etude primarily written for?

An etude is primarily composed with the intention of developing and improving a specific performance technique. These musical pieces are often intricate and focus on particular technical challenges that musicians face, such as finger dexterity, articulation, or dynamic control. Etudes serve as both practice tools and performance pieces, but their main purpose is to aid in the mastery of specific skills within the context of a musical instrument. While they can sometimes be appealing for concert performances or entertainment, and may evoke emotions or narratives, their foundational design is centered on technique rather than storytelling or purely entertaining an audience.