A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a specialized chip built into many modern computers that securely stores sensitive data, such as encryption keys, passwords, and digital certificates. It provides hardware-based security functions to protect information from unauthorized access, even if the rest of the system is compromised. TPMs are widely used for features like device authentication, disk encryption (such as BitLocker), and secure boot processes. Microsoft requires TPM 2.0 for Windows 11 installations, making it an essential component for enhanced security in today's computing environments.