JPA, or Java Persistence API, is a specification in the Java programming language that provides a way to manage relational data in Java applications. It allows developers to map Java objects to database tables, making it easier to perform operations like creating, reading, updating, and deleting data without writing complex SQL queries. JPA is often used in conjunction with various implementations, such as Hibernate or EclipseLink, which provide the actual functionality to interact with databases. By using JPA, developers can focus on their application's business logic while relying on the framework to handle data persistence efficiently.