Pattern matching is a technique used in computer science and mathematics to identify and locate specific sequences or structures within data. It involves comparing a given input against predefined patterns to determine if there is a match. This can be applied in various fields, such as text processing, image recognition, and data analysis. In programming, pattern matching can simplify code by allowing developers to check for specific conditions or data structures without writing extensive conditional statements. Languages like Haskell and Python offer built-in support for pattern matching, making it easier to work with complex data types and structures.