Astro is a web development framework that offers a refreshing approach to building content-rich websites, with features such as zero client-side JavaScript by default, an island architecture for partial hydration of interactive components, and content collections with type safety. Astro's flexible adapter system allows for deployment on various platforms, including serverless environments like Vercel and Cloudflare Workers. The framework also provides a friendly developer experience, with tools such as a CLI, VS Code extension, and first-class TypeScript support built-in. With its focus on performance, simplicity, and adaptability, Astro is gaining popularity among developers building content sites that require fast page loads and modern capabilities.