The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database used by Microsoft Windows to store and manage configuration settings for the operating system, applications, hardware, and user preferences. It consists of keys and values that control system behavior, startup programs, installed software, driver settings, and security policies. The registry is divided into several hives (e.g., HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CURRENT_USER), each containing different categories of configuration data. Users can modify the registry using the Registry Editor (regedit), but incorrect changes can cause system instability or failures. For security and performance, it’s essential to backup the registry before making modifications and apply proper access control to prevent unauthorized changes. Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry