Deserialization is the process of converting data from a format that can be easily stored or transmitted, such as JSON or XML, back into a usable object or data structure in a programming language. This allows applications to reconstruct complex data types from a simpler representation, making it easier to work with data received from external sources. In many programming languages, deserialization is commonly used in web development, where data is exchanged between a server and a client. For example, when a web application receives a response from a server in the form of JSON, it must deserialize that data to create objects that the application can manipulate, such as user profiles or product information.