The Dragon Balls
The Dragon Balls are magical balls that when all 7 of one set are collected it gives a person a wish, sometimes 3. Each set is created by a god or gaurdain of a Planet. When all seven of one set is gathered and the magic words are said there is a Dragon summoned and it gives you any wish that is within the person that create those Dragon Ball's power. Mostly in DBZ the Dragon Balls are used to revive fallen comrades. The Earth's Dragon Balls can only a person one time, but the Namek Dragon Balls can revive a person many times as long as they didn't die of natural causes.
First, there is the Earth Dragon Balls, they were the first introduced. Bulma was looking for these when she meet Goku in the first episode of Dragon Ball.
Dragon Balls Earth
How Many Needed to Make a Wish 7
How Many Wishes Made at Each Summoning 1, then later 3
Dragon Being Summoned Shenlon
Creator of the Dragon Balls Kami-sama
Secondly, There are the Namekian Dragon Balls, Bulma, Gohan, and Krillen went to Namek to get the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish back Piccolo, who was killed in the fight with Nappa. These Dragon Balls give 3 wishes and always have, the first time used by the Earthlings was to wish back Piccolo, wish piccolo to Namek, and finally wish everybody on Namek(except Goku and Freeza) to Earth. Saichourou is Guardian of Namek and he created these.
Dragon Balls Namek
How Many Needed to Make a Wish 7
How Many Wishes Made at Each Summoning 3
Dragon Being Summoned Porunga
Creator of the Dragon Balls Saichourou
Lastly, there are the Black Star Dragon Balls, they are in DBGT so I don't much about them. They were used by Pilaf to wish Goku back to a child so he could beat him. They were made by Kami before he spilt into Piccolo and Kami.
Dragon Balls Black Star
How Many Needed to Make a Wish 7
How Many Wishes Made at Each Summoning 1
Dragon Being Summoned Ultimate Shenlon
Creator of the Dragon Balls Kami-sama