P vs NP Problem

The P vs NP problem is a major question in computer science that asks whether every problem for which a solution can be quickly verified (NP problems) can also be quickly solved (P problems). In simpler terms, if we can efficiently check the correctness of answers to a problem, can we also find those answers efficiently? If P equals NP, it would mean many complex problems could be solved quickly, impacting fields like cryptography, optimization, and artificial intelligence. However, if P does not equal NP, it means some problems are inherently difficult to solve, even if we can check solutions easily.