HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness, which are three components used to describe colors in a more intuitive way. The "Hue" refers to the type of color itself, represented as a degree on a color wheel, ranging from 0° to 360°. For example, 0° is red, 120° is green, and 240° is blue. Saturation indicates the intensity or purity of the color, while Lightness describes how light or dark the color appears. Together, these three elements allow for a comprehensive understanding of colors, making it easier to create and manipulate them in various applications, such as graphic design and digital art.