The Hindu-Arabic numeral system is a decimal numeral system that uses ten symbols: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. It is the most widely used numeral system in the world today, allowing for the representation of any number through combinations of these digits. The system is based on place value, meaning the position of a digit affects its value. Originating in India, this numeral system was later transmitted to the Islamic world and then to Europe. Its introduction revolutionized mathematics and commerce, replacing less efficient numeral systems and enabling more complex calculations.