Common Table Expressions (CTEs), also known as CTEs, are a powerful feature in SQL that allows you to define a temporary named result set within a single SQL statement. Think of them as reusable subqueries, but with a few key advantages. They enhance readability by breaking down complex queries into smaller, more manageable parts. This makes the overall query structure easier to understand and maintain. Furthermore, CTEs can be referenced multiple times within the same statement, promoting code reuse and reducing redundancy. This is particularly helpful when dealing with queries that involve multiple, nested subqueries. Finally, CTEs improve query performance by allowing the database engine to optimize the query plan more effectively, as it can process the CTE once and reuse the result set in subsequent parts of the query.