The term "infrastructure as code" (IaC) refers to the practice of managing and provisioning IT infrastructure using code, rather than manual processes. This methodology enables developers to automate the deployment and management of servers, networks, and other resources through version-controlled configuration files. By treating infrastructure in a programmatic manner, IaC enhances consistency, reduces human errors, and accelerates deployment times. It allows teams to apply software development principles to infrastructure management, promoting agility and efficiency in cloud and on-premise environments.