Does balanced sound better than single-ended?

Excuse me, I was just reading about audio equipment and came across the term 'balanced' as opposed to 'single-ended'. Could you please explain in simple terms what the difference is between the two and why one might be considered better than the other? Is it true that balanced audio is always superior in terms of sound quality and performance? I'm interested in understanding the nuances of this topic and how it might impact my audio experience.