An English auction is a popular type of auction where bidders openly bid against one another. The auctioneer starts with a minimum price, and participants raise their bids until no one is willing to bid higher. The item is sold to the highest bidder at the end of the auction. These auctions are commonly used for selling items like art, antiques, and real estate. The competitive nature encourages bidders to increase their offers, often resulting in a final sale price that exceeds the initial value of the item.