Ray tracing is a rendering technique commonly used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene. It works by tracing the path of rays of light as they are emitted from a light source, bounce off objects in the scene, and eventually reach the camera or viewer's eye. This process allows for the accurate simulation of reflections, refractions, shadows, and other optical effects, resulting in realistic and detailed images. Ray tracing is known for its ability to produce high-quality visuals, but it can be computationally intensive and requires significant processing power. Despite this, it is widely used in the film industry, video games, and other applications where realistic graphics are necessary.