Affine transformations are mathematical operations that manipulate geometric objects in a way that preserves points, straight lines, and planes. These transformations include operations such as translation, scaling, rotation, and shearing. They can be represented using matrices, allowing for efficient calculations in computer graphics and image processing. In an affine transformation, the relative positioning of points remains unchanged, meaning parallel lines stay parallel. This property makes affine transformations useful in various applications, including computer graphics, robotics, and image analysis. By applying these transformations, one can easily modify shapes and images while maintaining their essential structure.