hitpoints

Hitpoints, often abbreviated as HP, are a common game mechanic used in video games, role-playing games, and other forms of interactive entertainment to represent a character's or entity's health, vitality, or endurance. The concept of hitpoints serves as a quantitative measure of how much damage a character can sustain before being defeated or incapacitated.

When a character or entity takes damage from an attack, spell, or environmental hazard, their hitpoints are reduced accordingly. The amount of damage dealt can vary depending on the source of the attack, the defenses of the target, and various other game mechanics. If a character's hitpoints reach zero, they are typically considered defeated, dead, or otherwise removed from active play.

Hitpoints can be restored through various means, such as consuming healing items, resting, using magical abilities, or receiving aid from other characters. The strategic management of hitpoints is a fundamental aspect of gameplay in many titles, requiring players to balance offensive actions with defensive measures and resource management. The visual representation of hitpoints often takes the form of a numerical display, a health bar, or a combination of both. The specific implementation and significance of hitpoints can differ significantly between game systems and genres.