Make
In plain terms
A classic build-automation tool driven by rules.
Going deeper
Make builds targets from sources based on dependency rules in a Makefile, rebuilding only what changed. It's a foundational, language-agnostic build tool.
Under the hood
Tracks file timestamps for incremental builds; ubiquitous in C/C++ and as a general task runner.
Examples
C/C++ builds, Makefile, task automation, incremental compilation.
Think of it like...
Like a recipe that only re-cooks the dishes whose ingredients have changed.