Gradle is an open-source build automation tool that provides developers with a flexible and declarative approach to building, testing, and deploying software projects. Developed by Gradle Inc., Gradle combines the best features of traditional build tools like Apache Ant and Apache Maven with modern concepts like Groovy-based scripting and dependency management. With its powerful build script DSL (Domain-Specific Language) and rich ecosystem of plugins, Gradle offers developers a unified platform for managing the entire software development lifecycle.