The Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix is a mathematical representation that describes how different types of quarks transform into one another through the weak force. It is a key component of the Standard Model of particle physics, which explains the fundamental particles and their interactions. The matrix contains complex numbers that indicate the probability of a quark changing from one flavor to another during particle decay processes. The CKM matrix is a 3x3 unitary matrix, meaning it preserves the total probability of quark transitions. It plays a crucial role in understanding CP violation, which is the difference in behavior between matter and antimatter, and is essential for explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry observed in the universe.