Random access iterators are a type of iterator that allows direct access to any element in a collection, such as an array or a vector. They enable operations like incrementing, decrementing, and jumping to specific positions within the collection, making them very efficient for accessing elements at arbitrary locations. These iterators support operations similar to pointer arithmetic, allowing users to perform calculations on their positions. For example, you can add or subtract an integer to move forward or backward by multiple elements. This flexibility makes random access iterators particularly useful in algorithms that require frequent access to different parts of a data structure, such as sorting or searching algorithms.