Porthcawl is a town and community situated within the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, United Kingdom. Located on the south coast of the country, it rests on a low limestone headland overlooking the Bristol Channel. Geographically, the settlement lies approximately 25 miles west of Cardiff and 19 miles south-east of Swansea, positioning it as a distinct coastal entity within the broader South Wales region.

Historically part of Glamorgan, Porthcawl developed significantly during the 19th century as a coal port. Its maritime trade was eventually overtaken by rapidly expanding neighboring ports such as Barry. The area contains notable heritage sites, including the remains of Kenfig Castle located in the dunes of Kenfig Burrows to the north-west, and several scheduled monuments such as the Dan-y-Graig Roman villa and Hutchwns round barrow.

The town is defined by its extensive promenade, which runs from Lock's Common to the harbour and was restored in 1996. Key landmarks include the Grand Pavilion, built in 1932 for performances, and the Porthcawl Lighthouse at the end of the jetty, which was the last coal and gas-powered lighthouse in the UK. The seafront also features the historic Jennings Building, Wales' oldest maritime warehouse, and controversial luxury flats known locally as "the bottle bank".

Porthcawl functions as a traditional holiday resort with seven beaches, including the Blue Flag Trecco Bay and Rest Bay. Visitor attractions include the Coney Beach funfair, three golf courses such as the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, and the Porthcawl Male Voice Choir. The town hosts the annual Porthcawl Elvis Festival in September and offers classic seaside dining options along its promenade.

The population of Porthcawl was recorded as 16,134 in 2021. Access to the town is facilitated by the A4229 road linking to the M4 motorway and the First Cymru X2 bus service to Cardiff, with Bridgend serving as the nearest mainline railway station. The local economy benefits from tourism, with major facilities like the Trecco Bay holiday park and various educational institutions supporting the community.