Dive into the fundamentals of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in this comprehensive lecture on perturbative QCD for colliders. Explore key concepts including the introduction of color, gluon gauge fields, and asymptotic freedom. Learn about the QCD Lagrangian, renormalization group equations, and quark masses. Gain insights into color transformations, tests of the color hypothesis, and the reformulation of QCD principles. Examine practical examples and delve into advanced topics like IR renormalons. This lecture, part of a broader program on extreme QCD matter, provides a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of strongly interacting phases in high-energy physics.