A string literal is a sequence of characters used in programming to represent text. It is typically enclosed in quotes, such as single (' ') or double (" ") quotes, depending on the programming language. String literals can include letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces, allowing developers to work with text data easily. In many programming languages, such as Python, Java, and JavaScript, string literals can be manipulated using various functions and methods. They can be concatenated, sliced, or formatted, enabling programmers to create dynamic text outputs and manage user input effectively.