Speech recognition is a technology that enables a computer or device to identify and process human speech. It works by converting spoken words into text using algorithms and linguistic models. The process involves several stages: capturing audio input, analyzing the sound waves, recognizing phonemes (the smallest units of sound), and constructing words and sentences.

Advanced speech recognition systems utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve accuracy by learning from large datasets of spoken language.

The success of speech recognition systems depends on factors like the quality of the speech data, the clarity of speech, and the system's ability to understand different accents and dialects. Continuous advancements in computational power and machine learning are driving improvements in the efficiency and accuracy of speech recognition technologies, making them increasingly integral to everyday life and various professional fields.