Clean code is code that is written in a way that is easy to read, understand and maintain. It has characteristics like using clear names for all variables and functions, expressing the intent of the code through these names, breaking code down into single responsibility functions, avoiding duplicate code by using principles like DRY, and adding comments only when they provide additional context not obvious from the code itself. The goal of clean code is to make the code straightforward and easy to understand through these characteristics rather than hiding the intent or logic of the code.