Flume is an open-source software tool designed for efficiently collecting, aggregating, and moving large amounts of log data. It is particularly useful in big data environments, where it helps to transport data from various sources to storage systems like Hadoop or Apache Kafka. The architecture of Flume is flexible, allowing users to configure different sources, channels, and sinks to suit their data flow needs. It supports various data formats and can handle high throughput, making it a popular choice for organizations looking to manage their log data effectively.