Upon their initial encounter, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi greeted each other with a handshake.
Throughout the galaxy, a handshake served as a common form of greeting, a symbol of agreement, or a gesture of reconciliation among beings. It was particularly prevalent among Humans, even those residing in isolated and ancient societies such as the Witches of Dathomir. Numerous non-Human species also recognized this custom, including the Wookiees, Mrlssi, Sullustans, Hiromi, Tammuz-an, Jazbinans, Talz, and Calibops—although the latter lacked actual hands, possessing only prehensile wingtips.
Typically, politeness dictated that handshakes be performed with ungloved hands, although some individuals preferred to keep their gloves on due to concerns about infection. Declining a handshake was also viewed as discourteous and lacking in diplomatic tact. In 4 ABY, when Imperial Governor Wilek Nereus welcomed ambassadors from the New Republic, Han Solo conspicuously remained apart with a disapproving expression, despite protocol requiring at least a bow or handshake. Skilled politicians, like Tarsus Valorum, were known for executing excellent handshakes, characterized by a firm but not overwhelming grip, whereas some individuals would rudely and unnecessarily squeeze the fingers of others to demonstrate strength.
Mandalorians traditionally engaged in a handshake variant where they clasped each other's forearm, positioning their hand above the wrist. This specific hand-to-elbow grip was believed to signify one's capability to pull a comrade to safety if necessary. Chiss who shared a close bond, such as siblings, would greet one another in a similar fashion.
Despite its usual harmlessness, this social ritual could become perilous when encountering a Kuati noble. On Kuat, the practice of poisoning adversaries was a tradition spanning centuries, and nobles would don specialized injector rings enabling them to administer poison during a handshake. Grodin Tierce once instilled fear in the con artist Flim by recounting the Kuati custom after Flim had just shaken hands with the Kuati Nalgol—however, the Captain had utilized his ring to extract a skin sample instead of injecting poison.