The A* search algorithm is a popular pathfinding and graph traversal method used in computer science and artificial intelligence. It efficiently finds the shortest path from a starting point to a goal by combining features of both Dijkstra's algorithm and Greedy Best-First Search. A* uses a cost function that considers the distance traveled so far and an estimated distance to the goal, allowing it to prioritize paths that are likely to lead to the best solution. The algorithm maintains a priority queue of nodes to explore, selecting the most promising one based on its cost function. As it explores, A* updates the costs of neighboring nodes, ensuring that it always finds the optimal path if one exists. This makes it widely used in applications like video games, robotics, and navigation systems.