Wavelets are a mathematical tool used in signal processing and image analysis for analyzing and decomposing signals and images into different scales or frequencies. They are particularly useful for analyzing signals that have both high and low-frequency components, as they can efficiently capture both local and global features of the data. Wavelet analysis is often used in data compression, denoising, feature extraction, and pattern recognition applications. It has found applications in a wide range of fields such as audio and image processing, medical imaging, and geophysics.