What is a CAPTCHA used for?

A CAPTCHA, or "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart," serves primarily to differentiate between human users and automated programs or bots. This verification helps prevent abuse of services by ensuring that the actions being performed on a website, such as submitting forms, creating accounts, or making purchases, are conducted by real users rather than by scripts or automated software designed to exploit the system.

Using CAPTCHAs effectively enhances the security and integrity of online platforms by reducing the likelihood of spam and fraudulent activities. This is particularly important for web services that require user interactions, as it ensures a better experience for legitimate users while protecting the site from malicious or unauthorized access.