File corruption occurs when data within a file becomes damaged or unreadable, making it impossible to access or use the file as intended. This can happen due to various reasons, such as unexpected power outages, software bugs, or hardware failures. When a file is corrupted, it may display error messages or fail to open altogether. Common types of files that can become corrupted include documents, images, and videos. To prevent file corruption, it's essential to regularly back up important data and use reliable software. If a file is corrupted, specialized recovery tools may help restore it, but success is not guaranteed.