XPath (XML Path Language) is a query language used for selecting nodes from an XML document. It provides a way to navigate through elements and attributes in XML documents, enabling precise data extraction. XPath expressions are used to locate nodes within the document tree based on various criteria such as element names, attributes, and hierarchical relationships. XPath is commonly used in web scraping to extract data from HTML and XML documents, especially when the structure is complex and requires specific selections. It is a powerful tool for accessing nested elements and attributes, making it essential for detailed and accurate data extraction.