Perlin noise is a gradient-based procedural noise function developed by Ken Perlin, widely used in computer graphics for generating natural-looking textures, terrains, and other organic patterns. It produces smooth, continuous variations by interpolating gradients at lattice points, resulting in a coherent and visually appealing randomness. Unlike pure randomness, Perlin noise is deterministic and repeatable, making it ideal for applications like terrain generation, cloud rendering, and animations where consistent patterns are essential. Its flexibility and scalability allow it to be adapted to different dimensions and customized for various use cases, from simple 2D textures to complex 3D volumetric effects.