Here's a breakdown:

* Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more electron pairs between two atoms.

* Sharing: The atoms don't fully transfer electrons to each other like in ionic bonding. Instead, they both contribute electrons to create a shared pair that orbits both atomic nuclei.

* Stability: This sharing allows both atoms to achieve a stable, full outer electron shell, which is a more energetically favorable state.

Examples of covalent bonds include:

* Water (H₂O): Each hydrogen atom shares its single electron with the oxygen atom, and the oxygen atom shares two electrons, one with each hydrogen atom.

* Carbon dioxide (CO₂): The carbon atom shares two electrons with each oxygen atom, and each oxygen atom shares two electrons with the carbon atom.

Let me know if you'd like more detail about covalent bonds or examples!