Trees in data structures are hierarchical models composed of nodes connected by edges, resembling an inverted tree with a single root node at the top. Each node can have child nodes, forming a parent-child relationship, while leaf nodes have no children. Trees are widely used for organizing data efficiently, enabling operations like searching, sorting, and hierarchical representation. In real life, they are essential in file systems, decision-making processes, routing algorithms, and database indexing, offering structured solutions for various computational and organizational problems.