Vacuum techniques involve the use of equipment to create a space devoid of matter, including air. This is achieved through various methods, such as mechanical pumps or diffusion pumps, which remove gas molecules from a sealed environment. These techniques are essential in fields like physics, chemistry, and materials science for experiments that require controlled conditions. In industrial applications, vacuum techniques are used for processes like vacuum packaging, which extends the shelf life of food by removing air. They are also crucial in the production of semiconductors and thin films, where a clean, controlled atmosphere is necessary to ensure product quality and performance.