Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows users to integrate and share data from different applications. It enables users to create a link to an object, such as a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet, within another application. This means that changes made to the original object are automatically reflected wherever it is linked. OLE supports two main functionalities: linking and embedding. Linking allows users to reference an external object without duplicating it, while embedding incorporates the object directly into the host application. This flexibility enhances productivity by allowing seamless interaction between different software programs.