The **AI-Thinker ESP32-CAM** is a compact, low-cost development board that combines a dual-core ESP32 microcontroller (up to 240 MHz), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 2MP OV2640 camera in a module about 27 × 40 mm. It includes 4 MB of PSRAM for image buffering, a microSD slot, a bright onboard flash LED, and both a PCB antenna and a u.FL connector for an external one. It has no operating system and no built-in USB port, so you load code using the ESP32-CAM-MB base or an FTDI adapter, via the Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF, or MicroPython. Popular uses include live video streaming, DIY security cameras, time-lapse photography, motion-triggered capture, and simple face detection. It needs a stable 5V supply, as weak power often causes resets. It's one of the cheapest ways to add a camera and Wi-Fi to a hobby project.