Clock drift refers to the gradual deviation of a clock's time from the actual time. This phenomenon occurs because no clock is perfectly accurate; factors like temperature changes, mechanical wear, and battery performance can affect its precision. As a result, a clock may run faster or slower than the standard time, leading to discrepancies. In digital systems, clock drift can impact synchronization between devices, such as computers and servers. To mitigate this issue, protocols like Network Time Protocol (NTP) are used to regularly adjust and synchronize clocks, ensuring that all devices maintain accurate time across networks.