  The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is the
first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises
three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black
Hole Mapper (BHM), and Local Volume Mapper (LVM). This data release contains
extensive targeting information for the two multi-object spectroscopy programs
(MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their
numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting
databases and their calibration- and scientifically-focused components. DR18
also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray
sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of
the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also
describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been
published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.
