Bit manipulation refers to the act of algorithmically manipulating bits or binary digits, which are the most basic units of data in computing. This technique is often used in programming to perform operations like setting, clearing, or toggling specific bits within a binary number. It allows for efficient data processing and can optimize performance in various applications. Common operations in bit manipulation include AND, OR, XOR, and bit shifts. These operations enable programmers to perform tasks such as checking if a number is even or odd, counting the number of set bits, or swapping values without using temporary variables. Understanding bit manipulation is essential for low-level programming and optimizing algorithms.