> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://handbook.modular.com/llms.txt).
> Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Foundations

LLM inference is where models meet the real world. It powers everything from
instant chat replies to code generation, and directly impacts latency, cost, and
user experience. Understanding how inference works is the first step toward
building smarter, faster, and more reliable AI applications.

```mdx-code-block

```