ISO 8601 is an international standard for representing dates and times in a clear and consistent way. It helps avoid confusion that can arise from different date formats used around the world. For example, instead of writing "03/04/2023," which could mean March 4th or April 3rd, ISO 8601 uses the format "2023-04-03" to clearly indicate April 3rd, 2023. This standard is especially useful in fields like computing, data exchange, and business, where precise date and time representation is crucial. By using ISO 8601, organizations can ensure that everyone interprets dates and times the same way, improving communication and reducing errors.