Iterative methods are mathematical techniques used to find approximate solutions to problems, particularly in numerical analysis. Instead of solving equations directly, these methods start with an initial guess and refine it through repeated calculations. This process continues until the solution converges to a desired level of accuracy. Common examples of iterative methods include the Newton-Raphson method for finding roots of equations and gradient descent for optimizing functions. These methods are especially useful for large systems of equations or complex problems where direct solutions may be impractical or impossible to obtain.