The Kadamba script is the first writing system devised specifically for writing Kannada and Telugu. It is a descendant of the Brahmi script. The Kadamba script is also known as Pre-Old-Kannada script. The Kadamba script is one of the oldest of the southern group of Brahmic scripts that evolved from the Brahmi script. By the 5th century CE it became distinct from other Brahmi variants and was used in southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It evolved into the Old Kannada script by the 10th century CE and was used to write Kannada and Telugu. It is also related to the Sinhala script.