Samtools is a software suite designed for processing and analyzing sequence alignment data, particularly in the bioinformatics field. It is commonly used to manipulate BAM (Binary Alignment Map) and SAM (Sequence Alignment Map) files, which store information about the alignment of DNA sequences to a reference genome. The tools within Samtools allow users to perform various tasks, such as sorting, merging, and indexing alignment files. Additionally, it provides functionalities for variant calling, which helps in identifying differences between the sequenced DNA and the reference genome, making it essential for genomic research and analysis.