A phase shift refers to a change in the phase of a wave, which can occur in various contexts, such as in physics and engineering. It describes how the position of a wave changes over time or space, often measured in degrees or radians. For example, in a sine wave, a phase shift can indicate that the wave starts at a different point along its cycle. In electronics, phase shifts are important in signal processing and can affect how signals interact with each other. When two waves with different phase shifts combine, they can create interference patterns, leading to constructive or destructive interference. Understanding phase shifts is crucial for applications like communication systems and audio engineering.