Dark matter is an unseen form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible to traditional observation methods. It is believed to make up about 27% of the universe's mass-energy content. Dark matter is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters, which would not form or hold together without its presence. Understanding dark matter is crucial for unraveling the universe's structure, formation, and evolution, as well as for developing a complete picture of cosmology.