The Arabic numeral system, also known as the decimal numeral system, is one of the most widely used numeral systems around the world today. As the text mentions, this system originated in India around the 5th century AD. and became known as "Hindu numerals". However, it wasn't until it spread throughout the Arab world that it became the numbering system we use today.

One of the main characteristics of Arabic numerals is that they use ten digits, from 0 to 9, and are based on place value. This means that the value of each digit depends on its position in the number. For example, in the number 123, 1 represents 100, 2 represents 20, and 3 represents 3. The Arabic numeral system also uses a decimal point to separate whole numbers from decimals, allowing fractions to be represented very easy and efficient.

The introduction of Arabic numerals in Europe was a gradual process that began in the 12th century thanks to Arabic influence. Arabic numerals gradually replaced the ancient Roman and Greek numeral systems, and spread rapidly in Europe thanks to the invention of the printing press and the need for precise mathematical calculations in commerce and science.

Arabic numerals and the positional numeral system were fundamental to the development of mathematics and science in the Middle Ages and the modern era. They enabled the development of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics, and are essential in physics, engineering, and many other scientific and technical areas. Without Arabic numerals and their numbering system, many of the mathematical and scientific advances of the last few centuries would not have been possible.

In short, Arabic numerals are a decimal numeral system that originated in India and spread through the Arab world to the West, where it became the numeral system we use today. The Arabic numeral system is very efficient and easy to use for mathematical calculations thanks to its place value and the use of the same symbols for all quantities. Its introduction into Europe was fundamental to the development of mathematics and science in the Middle Ages and the modern era.