A CSHTML file is a web page that uses Razor syntax with C# code. It's primarily used in ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core web applications. CSHTML files combine HTML markup with C# code to dynamically generate web content on the server-side. The Razor syntax allows developers to embed C# code directly within the HTML, enabling them to perform tasks like accessing data from databases, processing user input, and generating dynamic HTML elements. When a user requests a CSHTML page, the server processes the C# code, executes it, and then sends the resulting HTML to the user's browser. This allows for creating interactive and data-driven web applications. CSHTML files are a crucial part of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, typically representing the 'View' component, which is responsible for displaying data to the user. The server-side processing ensures that sensitive data and logic remain secure, as the client only receives the rendered HTML.