What is BERT masking?

Excuse me, could you please explain what BERT masking is? I've heard it mentioned in the context of natural language processing and machine learning, but I'm not entirely clear on the concept. Is it a specific technique used in BERT models, or is it a broader concept that applies to other types of algorithms as well? I'd appreciate it if you could provide a concise yet informative explanation that helps me understand the basics of BERT masking.