A dipole antenna is a very common first antenna. They are very easy to build, cost-effective, and perform well. They are usually single-banded and are half-wavelength long.

Dipoles are fed with standard coax. They are best used with a 1:1 current balun at the feedpoint. A half-wave dipole does not usually need a tuner.

PROS
Affordable
Simple to build
Parts easy to source
Tuner not needed

CONS
Need to be about 1/2 wavelength high to get optimal DX conditions (Lower can cause NVIS radiation pattern)
Works best if stretched straight
Long

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Common Variations
Inverted V

The inverted V dipole is a common configuration for a dipole, and this can be done with nearly every type of dipole. This antenna can be easier to install vs a dipole because it only needs 1 high point (pole, tree, building, etc.) while a dipole needs 2; one for each end. This antenna also doesn’t need as much length as a dipole. Unfortunately, because the inverted V is closer to the ground, it has slightly less efficiency than a dipole.

Fan Dipole

A fan dipole is a bunch of dipoles connected at the same feed point. There should be an insulator to keep the elements apart.

Coil-loaded Dipole

Coil-loaded dipoles can be used to get multiple bands from a single dipole. The coils also allow them to be shorter than a standard dipole. With multiple bands, there will be a loss of efficiency.

Off-Center Fed Dipole
These dipoles have elements that are not the same length and are fed by a balun. This allows for multi-banded operation. You will need to use a tuner to get all bands to 50 ohms of impedance.

Doublet

The Doublet antenna is a special type of dipole that uses a length of ladderline as part of the antenna. In order to get it to tune properly, a balun is needed.

G5RV

The G5RV is a combo of the doublet and the off-center fed dipole. It is a very popular antenna, as it is multibanded and easier to feed than a doublet. Because of the ladderline length and the elements, it only needs a 1:1 balun.