What does the function int() do in Python?

The function int() in Python is used to cast a value to an integer type. This means it converts the provided value into an integer representation. For example, when you pass a floating-point number to int(), it truncates any decimal part and returns just the whole number portion. If you feed it a string that represents a number, such as '123', it can convert that string directly into the integer 123.

This functionality is particularly useful for data type compatibility, allowing programmers to ensure that variables are in the correct format for mathematical operations or comparisons. The int() function can also handle values that are already integers, simply returning them unchanged. Thus, it serves a crucial role in type conversion operations within Python programming.