XQuery is a powerful query language designed for retrieving and manipulating data stored in XML format. It allows users to extract specific information from XML documents, making it easier to work with complex data structures. XQuery can perform various operations, such as filtering, sorting, and transforming data, which is essential for applications that rely on XML databases. Developed by the W3C, XQuery is widely used in web services, data integration, and content management systems. Its syntax is similar to SQL, but it is specifically tailored for XML data, enabling developers to write queries that are both expressive and efficient.