Transverse waves are a type of wave where the motion of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel. This means that as the wave moves forward, the particles of the medium move up and down or side to side. Common examples of transverse waves include waves on a string and electromagnetic waves, such as light.
In a transverse wave, the highest points are called crests, while the lowest points are known as troughs. The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs is called the wavelength. Transverse waves can travel through solids and along surfaces, but they cannot propagate through fluids like liquids and gases.