Ray tracing is a computer graphics technique used to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene. It traces the path of rays of light as they travel from a virtual camera, bouncing off surfaces and interacting with materials. This method creates highly realistic images by accurately rendering shadows, reflections, and refractions. Unlike traditional rendering methods, which often use approximations, ray tracing calculates the color of each pixel based on the light's behavior. This results in images with greater detail and depth, making it popular in industries like film, video games, and architectural visualization.