This textbook, set for a one or two semester course in commutative algebra, provides an introduction to commutative algebra at the postgraduate and research levels. The main prerequisites are familiarity with groups, rings and fields. Proofs are self-contained. The book will be useful to beginners and experienced researchers alike. The material is so arranged that the beginner can learn through self-study or by attending a course. For the experienced researcher, the book may serve to present new perspectives on some well-known results, or as a reference.