Nerf Herder is an American rock band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 1994 by Parry Gripp (vocals, guitar), Charlie Dennis (bass) and Steve Sherlock (drums). They describe themselves as a "geek rock" band, and are known for simple modern punk-style songs with frequently humorous, juvenile, and pop-culture-referencing lyrics.

The band's name is a reference to a line of dialogue between Princess Leia and Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.

Their 1997 single "Van Halen", a tribute to the band of the same name, received significant radio airplay and led to their first major record deal with Arista Records. They also composed and performed the theme music to the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.