What painting technique uses water-based paint applied in thin layers?

The technique described in the question refers to watercolor painting, which involves the use of water-soluble pigments applied in thin washes. This method allows for a transparency that is characteristic of watercolor art, enabling artists to build up layers of color gradually, creating depth and tonal variation while maintaining luminosity. Watercolor paints, when mixed with water, can be applied lightly to achieve delicate hues or more densely for richer colors, but they always retain a certain level of transparency. This layering technique is a fundamental aspect of watercolor painting, distinguishing it from other methods that use different mediums, like acrylic or oil paints, which have different properties and application techniques.