Relational operators are symbols used in programming and mathematics to compare two values. They help determine the relationship between these values, such as whether one is greater than, less than, or equal to the other. Common relational operators include greater than (>), less than (<), equal to (==), greater than or equal to (≥), and less than or equal to (≤). These operators return a boolean value, either true or false, based on the comparison. For example, if you compare 5 and 3 using the greater than operator (5 > 3), the result is true. Relational operators are essential in decision-making processes within programming, allowing for conditional statements and loops.