Quadratics are a type of polynomial equation that can be expressed in the standard form: ax² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are constants, and a is not zero. The highest exponent in a quadratic equation is 2, which means the graph of a quadratic function is a curve called a parabola. Quadratics can have different shapes depending on the value of a. If a is positive, the parabola opens upwards, while if a is negative, it opens downwards. Quadratic equations can be solved using various methods, including factoring, completing the square, or applying the quadratic formula.