A zoom lens is a camera lens that offers a continuously variable focal length, typically without the need to refocus. Wide-angle zooms cover short focal lengths, standard zooms range from slight wide-angle to telephoto, and telezooms cover a range of telephoto distances. Some lenses, called super zooms, span from wide-angle to long telephoto.
Photographers use zoom lenses for flexibility, allowing them to adjust framing and composition without changing lenses. Understanding zoom lens types helps in selecting the right lens for landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and event photography.