A database query is a request for information from a database. It allows users to retrieve, update, or delete data stored in a structured format. For example, if you want to find all the books by a specific author in a library's database, you would use a query to search for that author's name. This process helps in organizing and managing large amounts of information efficiently. Queries are often written in a language called SQL (Structured Query Language). With SQL, users can create complex queries to filter data based on specific criteria, sort results, and even join information from multiple tables. This makes it easier to analyze and understand the data stored in a database.