The expression "2^5" represents the mathematical operation of exponentiation, where the base is 2 and the exponent is 5. This means that 2 is multiplied by itself a total of 5 times: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2. Calculating this gives us a result of 32. In simpler terms, "2^5" shows how many times you can double the number 2 five times, leading to the final value of 32. This concept is commonly used in various fields, including computer science and mathematics.