Personal jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to make decisions affecting a particular individual or entity. It is based on the idea that a person should be subject to a court's power if they have sufficient connections to the area where the court is located. These connections can include residing, doing business, or committing a wrongful act within that jurisdiction. There are two main types of personal jurisdiction: general jurisdiction and specific jurisdiction. General jurisdiction allows a court to hear any case involving a defendant if they have substantial connections to the jurisdiction, while specific jurisdiction applies when a case arises from the defendant's activities within that area.