Bacterial metabolism is the study of how bacteria obtain and utilize energy to carry out essential cellular processes, such as growth, reproduction, and survival. Bacteria can metabolize a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds to generate energy through processes like glycolysis, fermentation, respiration, and photosynthesis. Understanding bacterial metabolism is important for a variety of applications, including bacterial ecology, biotechnology, and medicine. Researchers study the ways in which bacteria metabolize different substrates, control metabolic pathways, and respond to environmental changes to gain insights into their physiology and potential for beneficial or harmful effects.