Lock-free programming is a concurrency control method that allows multiple threads to operate on shared data without using traditional locks. This approach helps prevent issues like deadlocks and reduces waiting time, as threads can continue executing even if other threads are accessing the same data. In lock-free programming, operations are designed to ensure that at least one thread can make progress at any given time. Techniques such as atomic operations and compare-and-swap are often used to manage shared resources safely. This makes lock-free programming particularly useful in high-performance applications where efficiency is critical.