Software RAID is a method of combining multiple hard drives into a single logical unit using software rather than dedicated hardware. This approach allows for data redundancy and improved performance by distributing data across several disks. It is often used in servers and personal computers to enhance data reliability and speed without the need for expensive RAID controllers. Unlike Hardware RAID, which relies on a dedicated card to manage the drives, software RAID uses the operating system to handle the configuration and data management. This makes it more flexible and cost-effective, but it may consume more system resources and can be less efficient in high-performance scenarios.