A zap is a Lightning Network transaction that facilitates the opening and closing of payment channels. Payment channels enable off-chain transactions for faster and cheaper payments. However, closing payment channels typically requires an on-chain transaction, which can be slow and expensive. Zaps provide a way to quickly open and close payment channels by using pre-funded channels or leveraging existing channels. Zaps make the Lightning Network more accessible and user-friendly, promoting its adoption as a scalable Bitcoin transaction solution. To use zaps, one can visit specific URLs or use Lightning Network-compatible wallets with built-in zap functionality.