X-ray diffraction is a powerful technique used in materials science and chemistry to determine the atomic and molecular structure of a crystalline material. It works by directing a beam of X-rays onto a sample, which causes the X-rays to diffract in a predictable pattern depending on the arrangement of atoms within the crystal lattice. By measuring the angles and intensities of these diffracted X-rays, researchers can then determine the precise positions of the atoms within the crystal structure. X-ray diffraction is commonly used to study the composition, phase, and crystallographic properties of a wide range of materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and biological molecules.