A geodesic is the shortest path between two points on a curved surface, similar to how a straight line is the shortest distance between two points on a flat plane. In mathematics and physics, geodesics are important in understanding the shape and structure of various surfaces, including spheres and more complex geometries. In the context of general relativity, geodesics describe how objects move through spacetime under the influence of gravity. For example, the orbit of a planet around a star can be considered a geodesic, as it follows the curvature of spacetime created by the star's mass.