A deed is the written legal instrument that transfers ownership, or title, of real property from a grantor to a grantee. To be valid, it generally must be signed by the grantor, identify the parties and property, and be delivered and accepted, then recorded in the public records.
There are several types. A general warranty deed offers the strongest guarantees, with the seller warranting clear title against all claims. A special warranty deed limits those guarantees to the seller's period of ownership, and a quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has with no warranties at all.
Recording the deed with the county puts the world on notice of the new ownership and protects the buyer's rights. The deed should not be confused with title, which is the ownership itself rather than the document.