battle

A battle is an armed confrontation between organized groups, typically as part of a broader war or campaign. It aims to defeat or compel the opponent, seize objectives, or disrupt their ability to continue fighting. Battles can occur on land, at sea, in the air, or in other domains, and may last from hours to many days. They are distinguished from skirmishes by greater scale, force concentration, and operational significance. The term derives from Old French bataille, from Latin battalia, and ultimately from Italian battaglia, historically meaning fighting or combat.

Battles are shaped by a range of factors, including terrain, logistics, leadership, morale, intelligence, and technology. The disposition of forces through maneuver, fortifications, artillery, and the use of combined arms is central to many engagements. Outcomes may be decisive, tactical stalemates, or strategic reversals, and can influence the broader trajectory of a war even when the engagement itself is limited in scale. Technological and doctrinal changes over time have altered how battles are fought, from ancient and medieval configurations to modern combined-arms and joint operations.

Common categories used by historians include pitched battles (large, planned engagements), sieges (prolonged assaults on fortified places), naval battles, and, in contemporary warfare, air or multi-domain battles. In some cultures, ceremonial reenactments and commemoration of famous battles persist in public memory, while scholarly work continues to analyze factors such as leadership, logistics, intelligence, and prewar planning. Overall, the study of battles seeks to understand how decisions, resources, and conditions shape military outcomes.