The process that converts glucose into energy during cell respiration is known as glycolysis. This biological pathway occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and breaks down glucose molecules into pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in the process. Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration, followed by the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which produce significantly more ATP. This energy is vital for cellular functions and the overall metabolism of organisms.