Gravitational collapse is the process by which a massive object is no longer able to maintain hydrostatic equilibrium against the force of its own gravity and begins to contract under the force of gravity. This can occur in a variety of astrophysical contexts, including the collapse of a stellar core during a supernova explosion, the collapse of a cloud of gas and dust to form a protostar, or the collapse of a massive star at the end of its life.

During the collapse, the object’s gravitational potential energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy or thermal energy. If the collapse is halted before all matter is compressed into a single point, a neutron star or white dwarf may be formed. However, if the collapse continues until all matter is compressed into a single point, known as a singularity, a black hole is formed.