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 various stages, such as protostar, main-sequence star, red giant, and white dwarf. The energy produced by stars comes from nuclear fusion reactions in which hydrogen is converted into helium. As a star ages, it will eventually exhaust its supply of hydrogen fuel and move on to other elements in its core. This process leads to changes in stellar structure and luminosity as well as the eventual death of the star.