Laparoscopy, also known as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery, is a procedure using a camera-equipped instrument (a laparoscope) inserted through small incisions to diagnose or treat conditions in the abdomen or pelvis. It allows surgeons to view organs, collect tissue samples, and perform surgical tasks like removing the appendix or gallbladder, offering benefits such as smaller scars, faster recovery, less pain, and shorter hospital stays compared to traditional open surgery.