copula
Polite copula, equivalent to です but more formal and humble. Used in keigo (polite speech) to refer to oneself or one's in-group, or in customer service settings.
See also: である
私は田中でございます。
I am Tanaka.
こちらがお品物でございます。
Here is the item.
The reception desk is over here.
This is not a paid item.
である is the plain, written-style copula used in essays and reports, whereas でございます is its polite, spoken counterpart for formal or service settings.
です is the standard polite copula, while でございます is a more formal, humble version used in business or service speech.
Derived from で + ございます (polite form of ござる, an old honorific verb for 'to be'). The kanji 御座 is ateji.