A SmartNIC (Smart Network Interface Card) is an advanced network interface card that offloads network processing tasks from the main CPU, improving system performance and security. Unlike traditional NICs, SmartNICs are equipped with programmable processors, memory, and sometimes even dedicated hardware accelerators. This allows them to handle complex functions such as encryption, firewalling, load balancing, and packet inspection directly on the card. By managing these tasks at the network edge, SmartNICs reduce latency, free up CPU resources, and enhance the scalability of data centers and cloud environments. They are increasingly used in high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure, and environments demanding robust security and efficient data flow management.