Lua is a lightweight, high-level programming language designed for embedded use in applications. It is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it easy to learn and use. Lua is often used in game development, web applications, and as a scripting language for software. One of Lua's key features is its powerful data description constructs, which allow developers to create complex data structures easily. It supports procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming paradigms, making it versatile for various programming tasks. Lua is also highly portable, running on multiple platforms with minimal overhead.