debounce delays a function's execution until after a specified wait time has elapsed since the last time the function was invoked. It's invaluable for performance optimization, particularly in event-driven scenarios like handling user input (e.g., search bars, resizing). By preventing excessive calls, debounce reduces resource consumption and improves responsiveness. Simple to use, it wraps your function and ensures it's only executed after the user has stopped performing the action for the given duration.