What defines piecewise continuous functions?

Piecewise continuous functions are specifically defined by different expressions on different intervals of their domain. This means that the function may behave differently depending on the region of the input values being considered.

For example, a piecewise continuous function may be defined with one expression for values less than a certain point (like a linear function), and a different expression (like a quadratic function) for values greater than that point. The function is 'piecewise' because it consists of multiple pieces, each described by its own mathematical formula.

These functions can still maintain continuity at the boundaries between the different pieces; however, they are not required to be defined by a single expression across the whole domain, which sets them apart from standard continuous functions. The presence of different expressions in different intervals is what primarily characterizes a piecewise continuous function, making them versatile in modeling scenarios where conditions change over intervals.