While it's not technically a "phase" of mitosis, Interphase is the longest and most active stage in the cell cycle. During Interphase, the cell grows, duplicates its chromosomes, and prepares for cell division. It's broken down into three subphases:

* G1 Phase (First Gap): The cell grows and carries out normal metabolic processes.

* S Phase (Synthesis): The cell replicates its DNA, creating two identical copies of each chromosome.

* G2 Phase (Second Gap): The cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis.

Only after Interphase is complete does the cell enter the mitotic phase (M phase), which includes mitosis and cytokinesis.