The document discusses a backhoe, which is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of an articulated arm, typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader. It describes the basic operations of a backhoe, including how the bucket digs by dragging toward the machine. The document also lists some key applications of backhoes such as trench excavation work and their advantages like versatility in tasks and interchangeable attachments.