"Hello, World!" is a simple program often used as the first example when learning a new programming language. It typically displays the text "Hello, World!" on the screen, serving as a basic introduction to the syntax and structure of the language. This program helps beginners understand how to write and execute code. The phrase originated from the book "The C Programming Language" by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie, published in 1978. Since then, it has become a standard practice in computer science education, symbolizing the start of a programmer's journey into coding and software development.