The strong nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, responsible for holding the nuclei of atoms together. It acts between protons and neutrons, which are collectively known as nucleons. This force is incredibly powerful but operates over a very short range, typically around one femtometer (10^-15 meters). This force is mediated by particles called gluons, which bind the nucleons through a process known as quantum chromodynamics. Without the strong nuclear force, atomic nuclei would not be stable, and matter as we know it would not exist.