CircleCI orbs are reusable YAML packages that simplify and condense repetitive code into a single line for seamless integration into continuous integration pipelines. Since their introduction in 2018, they have facilitated the deployment of applications, as demonstrated in a tutorial on deploying a Node.js application to Heroku, a popular hosting service. The tutorial guides users through cloning a pre-existing Node.js API project, setting it up for Heroku deployment, creating a Heroku application, and configuring CircleCI to automate deployment. By using the Heroku orb from the CircleCI registry, developers can abstract complex deployment processes, allowing the orb to handle tasks such as code checkout, authentication, and deployment to Heroku, thus enabling a smooth and efficient CI/CD workflow. The tutorial emphasizes the transformative impact of CircleCI orbs in reducing configuration complexity and promoting efficient application deployment.