Stellar evolution is the process by which a star changes over the course of time. Depending on the mass of the star, its lifetime can range from a few million years for the most massive to trillions of years for the least massive. During its life, a star will pass through several stages, such as protostar, main-sequence star, red giant and white dwarf. The more massive stars will also go through supernova and neutron star stages. As it ages, a star's temperature and luminosity will change, and it may also undergo pulsations and mass loss.