What is the primary difference between an assault and a battery?

The primary difference between an assault and a battery indeed centers on physical contact. Battery is defined as the intentional and unlawful use of force against another person, which results in harmful or offensive contact. In contrast, assault does not require physical contact but is characterized by the creation of a reasonable apprehension in the victim of an imminent harmful or offensive act. This means that an individual can commit assault by threatening to inflict harm, causing the victim to fear that such an action will occur, while battery requires that the actual offensive or harmful contact takes place. This distinction is crucial for understanding how these two terms are applied in legal contexts.