The strong force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, responsible for holding the nuclei of atoms together. It acts between particles called quarks, which combine to form protons and neutrons. This force is incredibly powerful but operates over very short distances, typically less than the size of an atomic nucleus. In addition to binding quarks, the strong force also keeps protons and neutrons tightly packed within the nucleus, overcoming the repulsive electromagnetic force between positively charged protons. The particles that mediate the strong force are called gluons, which carry the force between quarks, ensuring the stability of matter in the universe.