Range partitioning is a database management technique that divides a dataset into segments based on specified ranges of values. Each segment, or partition, contains rows that fall within a particular range, making it easier to manage and query large datasets. For example, a sales database might be partitioned by date, with each partition representing a specific year. This method improves performance by allowing the database to quickly access only the relevant partitions during queries. It also simplifies data maintenance tasks, such as archiving old data or optimizing storage, since each partition can be handled independently based on its range criteria.