Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool used for automating software builds, deployments and testing. It is an open-source software that provides a build framework that allows developers to build applications quickly and easily by automating many of the repetitive tasks associated with building software. Apache Ant uses XML files to define tasks and dependencies, making it easy to improve the efficiency and consistency of your build process. It is widely used in Java development and supports a wide range of tasks such as compiling code, running tests, and creating deployment packages.