IDisposable is an interface in the .NET framework that provides a standardized way to release unmanaged resources, such as file handles or database connections, when they are no longer needed. By implementing this interface, a class can define a method called Dispose, which contains the logic for cleaning up these resources, helping to prevent memory leaks and improve application performance. When a class implements IDisposable, users of that class can call the Dispose method directly or use a using statement, which automatically calls Dispose at the end of the block. This ensures that resources are released promptly and efficiently, promoting better resource management in applications.