Intent Filters are a key component in the Android operating system that allow applications to respond to specific actions or data types. They define the types of intents that an application can handle, enabling it to receive messages from other applications or the system itself. For example, an app can declare that it can open images or handle web links. When an intent is sent, the Android system checks the registered Intent Filters of all installed applications to find a suitable match. This process ensures that the right app is launched for a particular action, enhancing user experience by providing seamless interaction between different applications.