Latent prints are the invisible patterns left by the ridges on a person's fingers or palms when they touch a surface. These prints are not easily seen by the naked eye but can be made visible through various techniques, such as dusting with powder or using chemical methods. They are crucial in forensic science for identifying individuals at crime scenes. When a latent print is found, forensic experts analyze its unique characteristics to match it with known prints in databases. This process can help law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, solve crimes and identify suspects based on their fingerprints.