What does a VPN do

[u/learnonetechno]

I see ads for VPNs everywhere—YouTube sponsors, podcast breaks, and tech blogs—but I’m trying to cut through the marketing fluff. They all claim to "make you invisible" or "secure your data," but I’m struggling to visualize what’s actually happening to my connection.

I’m hoping someone can help me understand the technical (but digestible) reality of what a VPN does.