Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

* Oscillating fields: The electric and magnetic fields are not static; they change in a rhythmic, wave-like pattern.

* Perpendicular: The electric field oscillates in one plane, the magnetic field oscillates in a plane perpendicular to the electric field, and the wave travels in a direction perpendicular to both fields.

* Self-propagating: The changing electric field creates a changing magnetic field, which in turn creates a changing electric field. This continuous cycle allows the wave to propagate through space without needing a medium.

Think of it like a ripple in a pond. The ripple travels outward from the point where the stone was dropped, but the water itself doesn't move far. It's the disturbance, the wave, that travels. Similarly, with electromagnetic waves, the electric and magnetic fields oscillate, creating a disturbance that travels through space.