Data mining is a process used by businesses and organizations to extract valuable information from large datasets. It involves using various software techniques, algorithms, and statistical models to identify patterns, relationships, and trends within the data that can be used for decision making or other purposes such as predictive modeling, customer profiling, and market analysis. The goal of data mining is to discover hidden insights and knowledge from large amounts of data in a rapid and efficient manner. It is commonly used in areas such as business intelligence, scientific research, healthcare, finance, retail, and many others.