Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is used primarily for extracting natural gas and oil from underground rock formations. This technique involves injecting high-pressure fluid into the subsurface to create fractures in the rock, allowing hydrocarbons to flow more freely to the surface. While it has significantly increased energy production, fracking has raised concerns about environmental impacts, such as groundwater contamination, seismic activity, and air quality issues. As such, its use is both supported for energy independence and criticized for potential ecological damage.