Soft computing is a fusion of methodologies designed to model and solve real-world problems that are too complex for traditional mathematical techniques. It includes fuzzy logic, neural networks, evolutionary computing, and probabilistic computing. The goal of soft computing is to exploit tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty to achieve solutions that resemble human decision making. It allows for approximation, partial truth, and uncertainty where hard computing requires exact values. Soft computing has been applied to problems in areas like control systems, pattern recognition, prediction, and optimization.