Glyceraldehyde is a simple sugar, specifically a triose, with the chemical formula C3H6O3. It plays a crucial role in various metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, where it is an intermediate product. Glyceraldehyde exists in two forms: D-glyceraldehyde and L-glyceraldehyde, which are mirror images of each other. This compound is also important in biochemistry as it can be converted into other sugars and is involved in the synthesis of glycerol and fatty acids. Glyceraldehyde is used in research and has applications in the food industry as a sweetener and in the production of pharmaceuticals.