Photosynthesis is the foundational anabolic process by which photoautotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy. This process, primarily executed within the chloroplasts of plant cells and certain other organisms, utilizes absorbed sunlight to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) and water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) as a byproduct. The reaction is divided into two main stages: the light-dependent reactions, where light energy is captured to create energy-carrying molecules; and the light-independent reactions, which utilize these stored energy molecules to fix $\text{CO}_2$ into stable carbohydrate compounds. This process is fundamental to nearly all life on Earth, forming the basis of most food chains and regulating atmospheric composition.