Personal jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to make decisions affecting a specific individual or entity. It is based on the individual's or entity's connections to the state where the court is located. For example, if a person lives in California and is sued in a California court, that court typically has personal jurisdiction over them. 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 who has substantial connections to the state, while specific jurisdiction applies when a case arises from the defendant's activities within the state.