Mathematical integration is a fundamental concept in calculus that involves finding the integral of a function. It can be thought of as the process of calculating the area under a curve represented by a graph. Integration helps in determining quantities like total distance, area, and volume, making it essential in various fields such as physics, engineering, and economics. There are two main types of integration: indefinite and definite. Indefinite integration finds a general form of the antiderivative, while definite integration calculates the area under the curve between two specific points. Techniques such as substitution and integration by parts are often used to simplify the process.