JavaScript obfuscation is the process of deliberately making JavaScript code difficult to read, understand, or reverse-engineer. This is typically achieved by renaming variables and functions to meaningless names, removing whitespace, and using complex or confusing code structures. Obfuscation is often employed to protect intellectual property, prevent code theft, or hinder analysis by attackers and automated security tools. However, it can also be misused by cybercriminals to hide malicious code and evade detection by security software. While obfuscation does not provide true security, it adds a layer of complexity for anyone attempting to analyze or modify the code.