A "lede" (or "lead") is the opening sentence or paragraph of a news article or story. Its primary purpose is to grab the reader's attention and provide a summary of the most important information. A well-crafted lede answers key questions such as who, what, when, where, and why, setting the stage for the rest of the article. In journalism, the lede is crucial because it determines whether readers will continue to engage with the content. Different styles of ledes exist, including summary ledes, which provide a concise overview, and anecdotal ledes, which start with a story or example to draw readers in.