A price taker is an individual or firm that must accept the prevailing market price for a product or service, rather than being able to influence that price through their own actions. This concept is vital in markets characterized by perfect competition, where numerous buyers and sellers exist, ensuring that no single entity has the power to affect the market price. Price takers face a horizontal demand curve at the market price, meaning they can sell any quantity of goods at that price but cannot sell at a higher price due to competition.