Genetic algorithms are a type of evolutionary algorithm that use techniques inspired by Darwinian evolution, such as inheritance, mutation, selection, and crossover. They are commonly used to generate useful solutions to optimization and search problems by evolving candidate solutions over generations. Genetic algorithms work on a population of candidate solutions represented by chromosomes. They evolve toward better solutions through techniques like selection of the fittest solutions, crossover of parent solutions to create new solutions, and random mutation of new solutions. The algorithm terminates when either a maximum number of generations has been produced or a satisfactory fitness level has been reached in the population.