Raft is a consensus algorithm designed to manage a distributed system, ensuring that multiple servers agree on the same data. It simplifies the process of achieving consensus by breaking it down into understandable components, making it easier to implement than other algorithms like Paxos. Raft is particularly useful in systems that require high availability and fault tolerance. The algorithm operates through three main components: leader election, log replication, and safety. In leader election, one server is chosen as the leader to manage the log entries. Log replication ensures that all servers maintain the same data, while safety guarantees that only committed entries are applied, preventing inconsistencies across the system.