A protocluster is a dense region of young galaxies that are in the process of forming into a galaxy cluster. These regions are typically identified in the early universe, when galaxies are still in the process of coalescing into larger structures. Protoclusters are important for studying the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters, as well as understanding the processes that drive galaxy formation and evolution. Researchers study protoclusters to gain insights into the early stages of cosmic structure formation and to better understand the relationship between galaxies and their environment.