A utility patent is a type of intellectual property protection granted for new inventions or discoveries. It covers the functional aspects of an invention, meaning it must provide a specific utility or benefit. Utility patents can be awarded for processes, machines, articles of manufacture, or compositions of matter, and they typically last for 20 years from the filing date. To obtain a utility patent, an inventor must submit a detailed application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the relevant authority in their country. The application must include claims that define the invention's unique features and demonstrate its usefulness, novelty, and non-obviousness.