Pattern matching is a technique used in computer science and programming to identify and extract specific sequences or structures within data. It allows systems to recognize patterns in strings, arrays, or other data types, making it easier to perform tasks like searching, filtering, and data validation. In many programming languages, such as Python and JavaScript, pattern matching can be implemented using regular expressions or built-in functions. This technique is widely used in applications like text processing, data analysis, and machine learning, where recognizing patterns is essential for making predictions or decisions based on input data.