The PBM (Portable Bitmap) image format is a plain text representation of monochrome (black and white) images. It is part of the Netpbm format family, which encompasses various image formats designed for portability and simplicity. PBM files contain pixel values represented as binary ones and zeros, making them straightforward and easy to create or manipulate using simple text editors. While limited to monochrome images, the PBM format is lightweight and finds applications in scenarios where simplicity and ease of processing are prioritized over color richness and complexity.