A heightmap is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional terrain, where each pixel's value corresponds to the elevation at that point. This data can be used in various applications, such as computer graphics, video games, and geographic information systems (GIS), to create realistic landscapes and simulate terrain features. Heightmaps are often grayscale images, where lighter shades represent higher elevations and darker shades indicate lower areas. They can be generated from real-world data or created manually, allowing designers to craft detailed environments for virtual worlds, such as those found in Unity or Unreal Engine.