Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis evaluates the relationship between costs, volume, and profit to measure the impact of changes in costs and volume on company profits. It involves understanding cost behavior, including variable, fixed, and semi-variable costs, and utilizes tools like contribution margin, profit-volume ratio, and break-even analysis to make informed business decisions. CVP analysis can be applied for various purposes, including pricing decisions, assessing profitability, and determining optimal sales mix.