List comprehensions in Python are a concise and efficient way to create lists. They allow you to generate new lists by applying an expression to each item in an existing iterable, such as a list or a range. The syntax typically includes an expression followed by a for clause, and can optionally include an if clause for filtering elements. This feature enhances code readability and performance, making it a preferred method for list creation among Python developers. By using list comprehensions, you can write cleaner and more expressive code, which is especially beneficial in data processing and analysis tasks.