What is the main difference between assault and battery?

The distinction between assault and battery is primarily based on the nature of the acts and the mental state involved in each. Assault is defined as an attempt to commit a violent act or creating a reasonable fear of imminent harm in another person, which means it relies heavily on the perception of fear or threat by the victim rather than any actual physical contact.

On the other hand, battery is characterized by the actual physical contact or harm inflicted upon another person. This can include anything from minor physical altercations to serious injuries caused by direct actions. Therefore, while assault focuses on the threatening behavior and the resulting fear it instills, battery requires that physical harm or offensive contact actually takes place.

This clarification helps to understand that assault can occur without any contact, as long as there is an intent to cause harm or a reasonable fear of that harm, reinforcing the core distinction that the correct choice highlights.