Tree shaking is a term used in the context of web development, particularly with JavaScript and modern front-end build tools, to describe the process of removing unused code from your final bundle. It's like shaking a tree to let the dead leaves (unused code) fall off, so you end up with a lighter, more efficient bundle that only includes the code that's actually used in your application.
This concept became particularly relevant with the rise of module bundlers like Webpack, Rollup, and tools like Parcel, which analyze your import and export statements to determine which parts of a module are used by your application. If a function, class, or variable from a module is never used, the bundler can exclude it from the output bundle, reducing the size of your application and improving load times for your users.