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The hallux, big toe, or great toe is the innermost toe of the foot, counted as digit I.
In humans and non-human primates, the hallux is shorter than the second or pointer toe for a majority of people; compare to the thumb on the hand.
The human big toe has limited grasping ability. Chimpanzees and many other non-human primates lack opposable thumbs but have an opposable hallux.
In birds with anisodactyl or heterodactyl feet, the hallux is opposed or directed backwards and allows for grasping and perching.
Diseases
People with the rare genetic disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva characteristically have short big toes.
The big toe is the most common locus of gout attacks.
See also
"Hallux"