The state filing document that officially creates an LLC.
Articles of Organization (also called a Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation in some states) is the document you file with your state's Secretary of State to legally create an LLC. It's typically short — most states just require your business name, a registered agent, and sometimes the names of the members or managers.
Filing the Articles is the act that brings the LLC into legal existence. Before filing, the business doesn't legally exist as a separate entity. After filing and receiving confirmation from the state, you have a real LLC that can enter contracts, open bank accounts, and accept liability.
Don't confuse Articles of Organization with an Operating Agreement. Articles are the public-facing document you file with the state; the Operating Agreement is a private internal document that governs how the LLC actually runs.