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Vendor prefixes, often referred to as vendor-specific prefixes or browser prefixes, are special strings added to CSS property names to allow developers to experiment with new CSS features or to provide vendor-specific implementations of existing features. These prefixes, such as `-webkit-`, `-moz-`, `-ms-`, and `-o-`, were historically used by browser vendors to introduce experimental CSS properties or variations that were not yet part of the official CSS specification.

The purpose of vendor prefixes was to enable early adoption and testing of new CSS capabilities without risking compatibility issues with browsers that did not yet support the non-prefixed, standard version of the property. Developers would include both the prefixed and non-prefixed versions of a property in their stylesheets. This way, browsers that understood the prefixed version would use it, while browsers that supported the standard version would use that. As a CSS property gained wider adoption and was standardized, browser vendors would eventually remove their respective prefixes.

While vendor prefixes were instrumental in the evolution of CSS, their usage has significantly declined. The CSS Working Group and browser vendors have largely moved towards a more standardized approach, with new features being implemented directly as standard properties once they are ready. This shift aims to simplify CSS development and reduce the need for prefixes, leading to cleaner and more maintainable code. However, some older codebases may still contain vendor prefixes, and understanding their purpose remains relevant for web developers working with legacy projects.