The national language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia. This language is a standardized form of Malay and serves as a unifying means of communication among the diverse ethnic groups across the archipelago, which encompasses over 17,000 islands and more than 300 local languages. Bahasa Indonesia was formalized as the national language following Indonesia's independence from colonial rule in 1945. It plays a crucial role in education, government, media, and everyday communication, fostering national identity and cohesion. Additionally, its adoption and widespread use contribute to the linguistic diversity of Indonesia while promoting mutual understanding among its citizens.