Strangeness is a property in particle physics that describes how different a particle is from a standard reference particle, typically the up quark. It is a key feature of quarks, which are fundamental constituents of matter. Strangeness is measured in units of "strangeness number," where particles containing strange quarks have a negative strangeness value, while those without have a value of zero. In the context of elementary particles, strangeness helps scientists understand the behavior and interactions of particles in high-energy environments, such as those found in particle accelerators. This property plays a crucial role in the study of strong interactions and the formation of hadrons.