The bonds that hold hydrogen and oxygen together in a water molecule (H₂O) are called covalent bonds.

Here's why:

* Covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.

* In a water molecule, each hydrogen atom shares one electron with the oxygen atom, and the oxygen atom shares one electron with each hydrogen atom. This sharing forms a stable, shared pair of electrons between each hydrogen and oxygen atom, resulting in a strong covalent bond.