A logical connective is a symbol or word used to connect two or more statements in logic, forming a compound statement. Common logical connectives include AND, OR, NOT, and IF...THEN. These connectives help in constructing logical expressions and determining the truth values of complex statements based on the truth values of their components. In formal logic, each connective has a specific function. For example, the connective AND requires both statements to be true for the compound statement to be true, while OR requires at least one statement to be true. Understanding these connectives is essential in fields like mathematics, computer science, and philosophy, where logical reasoning is crucial.