What does the consumer surplus represent in relation to the demand curve?

Consumer surplus represents the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good and what they actually pay. This concept is closely related to the demand curve, which shows the maximum price consumers are willing to pay at different quantities. For example, if someone is willing to pay $10 for a sandwich but buys it for $7, the consumer surplus is $3. This surplus indicates the benefit consumers receive from purchasing the product at a lower price than they were prepared to pay. Overall, consumer surplus helps to measure the economic welfare of consumers in a market.