Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a composite number into its prime factors, which are the prime numbers that multiply together to give the original number. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 × 2 × 3, since 2 and 3 are prime numbers. This method is useful in various areas of mathematics, including simplifying fractions and finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of numbers. Understanding prime factorization helps in recognizing the building blocks of numbers and is foundational for more advanced topics like number theory.