A microsecond is a unit of time equal to one millionth of a second, or 10^-6 seconds. It is commonly used in fields like electronics and computing, where precise timing is crucial. For example, the speed of modern processors, such as those found in computers, is often measured in microseconds to indicate how quickly they can perform operations. In everyday life, a microsecond is too brief to perceive, but it plays a significant role in technology. For instance, fiber optic communication systems transmit data at speeds that can involve microsecond timing, allowing for rapid information exchange over long distances.