Exponential notation, also called scientific notation, is a method of representing numbers in a concise form. It simplifies the expression of very large or very small numbers by expressing them as the product of a coefficient and a power of 10. In this notation, a number is written as a×10n, where a is a decimal greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10, and n is an integer representing the exponent. This notation is beneficial for clarity and simplicity, especially in scientific and mathematical contexts, allowing the representation of a wide range of values without the need for cumbersome strings of digits.