The refrigeration cycle is a process used to remove heat from a designated area, keeping it cool. It involves four main stages: compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. In the compression stage, a refrigerant gas is compressed, raising its pressure and temperature. Next, the hot gas moves to the condensation stage, where it releases heat and turns into a liquid. The liquid then expands in the expansion stage, dropping in pressure and temperature. Finally, in the evaporation stage, the cold refrigerant absorbs heat from the surroundings, cooling the area before returning to the compressor to repeat the cycle.