Actor-network theory is a theoretical and methodological approach originating in science and technology studies (STS) that analyzes the formation and stabilization of socio-technical systems by tracing the associations and interactions among diverse human and non-human entities. It investigates the processes of 'translation' through which actors mobilize, enroll, and interest others, emphasizing a principle of generalized symmetry where all entities are treated as equally contributing to the network's construction. This framework provides a distinctive lens for understanding how scientific facts, technological artifacts, and social orders are dynamically produced and maintained through these complex, contingent relationships.