What does tempo mean music wise?

Tempo is an essential musical element defining the speed or pace of a composition. Simply put, it determines how fast or slow a piece of music is played. Each tempo has its unique style and effect on the listener's perception of the music. It is often marked at the beginning of a musical score through tempo marks, including terms like Allegro (fast), Adagio (slow), Andante (moderately slow), Vivace ( lively), among others.