OpenAL, or Open Audio Library, is a versatile audio API that enables developers to create 3D audio effects for interactive media. Supporting cross-platform functionality, OpenAL is commonly used in gaming to provide realistic spatial audio, simulating how sounds change based on listener location and movement. The API allows for complex audio manipulations like sound attenuation, Doppler effects, and environmental echoes, enhancing immersion. As an open-source library, OpenAL is freely available and widely supported, making it a popular choice for developers who want to deliver dynamic audio experiences in their applications.