A patent application is a legal document that describes an invention and requests the granting of a patent. It contains detailed information about the invention, including its purpose, how it works, and any necessary illustrations or diagrams. The goal of filing a patent application is to obtain exclusive rights over the invention for a limited period of time, during which the inventor can profit from their creation without fear of competition. Patent applications are typically filed with a national patent office, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and must meet specific requirements to be granted a patent.