Linting tools, commonly referred to as linters, scan source code for programming errors, bugs, stylistic discrepancies, and possible vulnerabilities. They help developers ensure that their code adheres to predefined standards and conventions, promoting consistency and readability. The term 'lint' originally refers to a Unix utility that examined C language source code. Today, linting has expanded to various programming languages and is an essential part of modern development environments, often integrated into editors or continuous integration workflows.