ما هو القناع في الترميز؟

Could you elaborate on the concept of a "mask" in the realm of coding? I'm curious to understand its purpose and how it's utilized in various programming contexts. Is it a data structure, a function, or something else entirely? Additionally, how does a mask facilitate operations in a coding scenario? And perhaps, are there specific instances where masks are particularly beneficial or required? Your insights into this technical term would be greatly appreciated.