MSBuild is a build platform developed by Microsoft that automates the process of compiling and packaging software projects. It uses XML-based project files to define the build process, allowing developers to specify how their code should be compiled, tested, and deployed. This flexibility makes it suitable for various programming languages and project types. MSBuild is commonly used in conjunction with Visual Studio, a popular integrated development environment (IDE). It supports incremental builds, meaning it only rebuilds parts of the project that have changed, which saves time during development. Additionally, MSBuild can be extended with custom tasks and targets to meet specific project needs.