The full name of the Shorter Catechism is "Westminster Shorter Catechism", which was formulated by the Council of Westminster in England in 1647, adopted by the Scottish Council in 1648, and approved by the British Parliament, and is still widely used in Reformed churches. It consists of 107 concise questions and answers, and is intended to systematically expound Christian doctrine in two main parts: one on God's attributes, creation, and redemption; The second is about human responsibility, including the interpretation of the Ten Commandments, faith and repentance, and channels of grace such as God's Word, the sacraments, and prayer.

The Shorter Catechism was originally written for children and new believers, but because of its profound content, it requires detailed explanations from the instructor when it is actually used. Known for its clarity and rigorous logic, it was an important introduction to Reformed theology, and became an important doctrinal standard for Presbyterians and other denominations as immigrants from England and Scotland spread to the Americas and Australia 。