A meson is a type of subatomic particle made up of one quark and one antiquark, which are held together by the strong force. Mesons are part of the family of particles known as hadrons, which also includes baryons like protons and neutrons. They are typically unstable and exist for only a short time before decaying into other particles. Mesons come in various types, including pions and kaons, each with different properties and masses. They play a crucial role in mediating the strong force that binds protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei. Understanding mesons helps physicists explore the fundamental forces of nature and the structure of matter.