Photographic film is a medium used to capture images in photography. It consists of a thin layer of light-sensitive chemicals coated on a flexible base, usually made of plastic. When exposed to light, these chemicals undergo a chemical reaction that creates a latent image, which can later be developed into a visible photograph. Once the film is developed, it can be printed onto paper or scanned into a digital format. There are various types of photographic film, including black and white, color negative, and slide film, each offering different qualities and uses in photography.