Speech recognition is a technology that enables computers and devices to understand and process human speech. It converts spoken words into text by analyzing sound waves and identifying patterns. This technology is commonly used in applications like virtual assistants, voice-activated controls, and transcription services. The process involves several steps, including capturing audio through a microphone, processing the sound using algorithms, and matching it to known words and phrases. Machine learning techniques improve the accuracy of speech recognition systems over time, allowing them to adapt to different accents, languages, and speaking styles.