A sprite sheet is a single image file that contains multiple smaller images, known as sprites. These sprites can represent various elements in a video game or animation, such as characters, objects, or backgrounds. By combining these images into one file, developers can optimize performance and reduce loading times, as fewer individual files need to be processed. Sprite sheets are commonly used in game development, particularly in 2D games. They allow for efficient rendering and easier management of animations, as each frame of an animation can be stored in a single sheet. This technique is widely utilized in various game engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine.