A triangle is a basic geometric shape consisting of three straight sides and three angles, summing to 180 degrees. Triangles are classified based on side length into equilateral (all sides equal), isosceles (at least two sides equal), and scalene (all sides different), or by angle into acute (all angles less than 90 degrees), obtuse (one angle greater than 90 degrees), and right (one 90-degree angle). This versatile shape is fundamental in various fields, including mathematics, engineering, and architecture.