The pattern にとって means 'for' or 'from the perspective of'. It highlights whose viewpoint or situation is being considered when making a statement or judgment. For example, when you say something is important 'for students', you are viewing it from the students' perspective.

It is common in both spoken and written Japanese, but it is a bit formal. In casual conversation, you might hear it less often, but it is not stiff. It often appears with adjectives like 大切 (important), 難しい (difficult), ありがたい (grateful), or verbs like なる.

Note that the particle は or も can follow にとって to add contrast or emphasis, as in にとっては or にとっても. Also, にとって is not used to express 'purpose' or 'beneficiary' in the sense of doing something for someone – that would use ために or に.