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Articulation and phrasing

Staccato

Play the note detached and shorter than its written value.

See it in the score

Repeated staccato Gs in Bach's Minuet

The detached notes keep their dance rhythm while leaving small pockets of silence.

Open measure 2 in the piece
Repeated staccato Gs in Bach's Minuet From Minuet in G Major by J.S. Bach (attrib.; BWV Anh. 114, likely Christian Petzold), source measure 2.

Passage playback follows the literal encoded notes, rhythm, tempo, and written directions in this excerpt. It is a study aid, not a model of a pianist's touch, phrasing, ornament realization, or pedal technique.

In a sentence

Play the note detached and shorter than its written value.

Staccato changes articulation, not the written beat position. The attack remains on time, but the key is released early enough to create a clear gap.

Its exact length depends on tempo and character. What remains consistent is the contrast with tenuto and legato: separated rather than sustained or joined.