Okay little one, so imagine you have a TV screen, but it's not connected to a TV station to show you any pictures or videos. The Hitachi HD44780 LCD controller is like the thing that connects the TV screen to a video player, so you can see pictures and videos.
Now, let's say the TV screen is actually a small screen that can display letters and numbers, like a calculator. The HD44780 is a special kind of controller that is specifically designed to help this small screen display words and numbers.
It works by sending electrical signals to the screen that tell each little part of the screen what to show. The controller also controls the brightness of the screen and the contrast of the text, so it's easy for you to read and see.
The HD44780 is a very popular controller for small screens like these because it's easy to use and has been around for a long time. This means that lots of people know how to use it and there are lots of resources available if you need help!
So, if you ever see a small screen that's displaying words and numbers, there's a good chance that it's using the HD44780 controller to do it!