Sephardic law and customs define the traditions of Jews descended from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly those expelled from Spain in 1492. The term is broadly applied to include Mizrahi Jews as well, due to their similar religious practices, largely shaped by Spanish exiles who standardized their rite across the Middle East and North Africa.

Jewish law, or Halakha, is primarily founded on the Babylonian Talmud. Its development was significantly influenced by the Geonim, revered leaders of Babylonian academies, whose legal rulings and handbooks spread throughout the Arab world. This learning reached Spain, where scholars like Isaac Alfasi created influential legal codes, which subsequently formed the basis for Maimonides' Mishneh Torah. These traditions notably diverged from Ashkenazi practices, which often emphasized the preeminence of local customs over strict adherence to earlier rulings.