BoringSSL is an open-source cryptographic library that was developed by Google. It is a fork of OpenSSL, another widely used cryptographic library, but BoringSSL was created to address some of the security and performance issues found in OpenSSL while maintaining compatibility with the APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) provided by OpenSSL.

The name "BoringSSL" is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as it suggests a focus on simplicity and correctness in the code, rather than flashy or complex features. Google primarily uses BoringSSL in its own projects, and it is also used by other organizations and developers in various applications where cryptographic functions are needed.

Some of the key reasons for the creation and use of BoringSSL include:

1. Security: BoringSSL aims to improve the security of the cryptographic codebase compared to OpenSSL. It is designed to minimize potential vulnerabilities and reduce the attack surface.

2. Performance: BoringSSL includes optimizations that can lead to improved performance over OpenSSL in certain scenarios.

3. Simplicity: The codebase of BoringSSL is intended to be easier to understand and maintain than OpenSSL, making it potentially more resilient to bugs and vulnerabilities.

4. Compatibility: BoringSSL strives to maintain API compatibility with OpenSSL, which allows projects that previously used OpenSSL to transition to BoringSSL with minimal code changes.

BoringSSL is widely used in various Google products and services, and it has also gained popularity in the broader software development community.