Stars come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and their type is determined by their size, temperature, and life stage. Red giants, for example, are large, cool stars nearing the end of their life, while white dwarfs are the remnants of smaller stars that have exhausted their fuel. Neutron stars, on the other hand, are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars that have exploded in supernovae.
Understanding the types of stars is key to understanding the life cycle of stars and the formation of elements in the universe. Some stars, like the Sun, are middle-aged and in a stable phase of their life, while others are in the process of dying or forming.