transition

Transition is the process or period of changing from one state, condition, or stage to another. It can refer to a physical change, a social or personal shift, or a conceptual progression over time. Transitions may be gradual or abrupt, planned or unexpected, and often involve adjustments to identity, function, or organization.

In the physical sciences, a transition describes a change between different states of matter or phases. Phase transitions, such as freezing or melting, involve changes in properties like structure and energy and may occur at a specific temperature or pressure. Some transitions are continuous, while others are first-order or second-order, characterized by order parameters and critical points.

In biology and life sciences, transitions occur as organisms develop through stages, or as populations shift in response to the environment. Examples include metamorphosis, puberty, seasonal migrations, and aging. Socially, transitions encompass changes in status, roles, or identity, including career changes, migration, or gender transition, and are often supported by policies and services to ease adaptation.

In linguistics and communication, transitions connect ideas and sections. Transitional devices, such as connectors and discourse markers, help maintain coherence and signal shifts in topic or argument. In computing and mathematics, state transitions describe moving from one configuration to another in automata or models, and transition probabilities appear in stochastic processes such as Markov chains.