The Hartree-Fock method is a computational technique used in quantum chemistry to approximate the wave function of a multi-electron system. It simplifies the complex interactions between electrons by assuming that each electron moves independently in an average field created by all other electrons. This approach helps in calculating the energy and properties of atoms and molecules. In the Hartree-Fock method, the total wave function is expressed as a product of single-electron wave functions, known as orbitals. The method iteratively adjusts these orbitals to minimize the total energy of the system, providing a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency in electronic structure calculations.