An OrderedDict is a specialized dictionary in Python that maintains the order of items based on their insertion sequence. Unlike a standard dictionary, which may not preserve order in versions prior to Python 3.7, an OrderedDict ensures that when you iterate over it, items are returned in the order they were added. This feature is particularly useful when the order of data matters, such as when processing configurations or maintaining a sequence of events. The OrderedDict is part of the collections module in Python, which provides alternatives to built-in data types. It supports all the standard dictionary operations, such as adding, removing, and accessing items, while also offering additional methods like `move_to_end()`, which allows for reordering of elements. This makes it a versatile choice for developers needing both dictionary functionality and order preservation.