A honeypot in cybersecurity is a decoy system or network set up to attract and monitor potential attackers. Its primary purpose is to detect, deflect, or study hacking attempts to gain insight into attack strategies and techniques.

Honeypots mimic real systems, containing seemingly valuable data to lure attackers. When cybercriminals interact with the honeypot, their actions are logged and analyzed without compromising actual systems. This helps security professionals understand the methods and tools used by attackers, enabling them to strengthen defenses.

There are different types of honeypots:

1. Low-Interaction Honeypots: Simulate limited services and are easier to set up, offering basic insights.
2. High-Interaction Honeypots: Simulate entire operating systems or networks, providing detailed information but requiring more maintenance and posing higher risk if not managed properly.

Honeypots can be deployed in various environments, including networks, applications, and databases. They are valuable for threat intelligence, early detection of new attack vectors, and improving overall security posture by learning from real-world attack scenarios.