Barrel distortion is a type of optical distortion commonly seen in photography and videography. It occurs when straight lines appear to curve outward from the center of the image, resembling the shape of a barrel. This effect is often more pronounced at the edges of the frame, especially in wide-angle lenses, where the lens design causes light to bend unevenly. This distortion can affect the overall composition of an image, making it look unnatural. While some photographers may use barrel distortion creatively, it is often corrected in post-processing software. Understanding barrel distortion is essential for achieving accurate and visually appealing images, especially in architectural and landscape photography.