Camera calibration is the process of determining the internal parameters of a camera, such as focal length and lens distortion. This is essential for accurate image capture and measurement, ensuring that the images produced are true to the real-world dimensions and perspectives. During calibration, a series of images are taken of a known pattern, often a checkerboard, from different angles. By analyzing these images, software can calculate the camera's intrinsic and extrinsic parameters, allowing for corrections to be made. This improves the accuracy of applications in fields like computer vision and robotics.