A baryon is a type of subatomic particle that is made up of three quarks. Baryons are part of the larger family of particles known as hadrons, which are influenced by the strong nuclear force. Common examples of baryons include protons and neutrons, which are the building blocks of atomic nuclei. Baryons have a half-integer spin, making them fermions, and they play a crucial role in the structure of matter in the universe. Their interactions and stability are essential for the formation of atoms and, consequently, all matter, including stars and galaxies.