Sodium chloride, commonly known as salt (NaCl), is a white, crystalline compound indispensable across countless sectors. Industrially, it's the cornerstone of the chlor‑alkali process, enabling the production of chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen. It’s also vital for water softening, de-icing roads, textile dye-fixing, and metal refining as a flux. In labs and medicine, it’s used in saline solutions, while in daily life it flavors food and enhances preservation.