Does Ripple actually do anything?

I've heard a lot about Ripple, but I'm not really sure what it actually does. Is it just another cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum? Or does it have some unique features or functions that make it stand out?" "I've also read that Ripple is trying to revolutionize the global payment system, but how exactly is it doing that? And why would banks and financial institutions want to use Ripple instead of the traditional payment systems they're already using?" "I'm just trying to understand the real value of Ripple and why it's getting so much attention lately. Can you help me out?