What does "Meta-stable" mean?

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Meta-stable refers to a state in a system that is stable but not permanent. It means that the system can stay in this state for a long time without changing, but it can eventually shift to a different state if certain conditions change.

In many systems, especially those that involve complex interactions, you might find these meta-stable states. For example, in a group of connected elements, like people or machines, they might work well together for a while, but if you change something about their connections or influence, they could suddenly behave differently.

This concept is important in various fields, including physics and computer science, because it helps explain how systems can maintain order and stability even when they are dynamic and constantly changing. Understanding meta-stable states can aid in predicting how a system will behave over time.