Enzyme inhibition is a process where the activity of an enzyme is reduced or halted by a specific molecule, known as an inhibitor. This can occur through various mechanisms, such as competitive inhibition, where the inhibitor competes with the substrate for the enzyme's active site, or non-competitive inhibition, where the inhibitor binds to a different part of the enzyme, altering its function. Inhibition is crucial for regulating biochemical pathways in living organisms. It helps maintain balance in processes like metabolism and can be influenced by factors such as temperature and pH. Understanding enzyme inhibition is important in fields like pharmacology, where inhibitors can be designed as drugs to treat diseases.