Resignation is the act by which a player concedes defeat during a game, without waiting for checkmate to occur. It is traditionally signaled by tipping over one’s king, offering a handshake, or clicking the resign button in an online interface.
Resignation is a widely accepted and respected practice at all levels of play. When a player is at a significant material disadvantage — such as being down a rook or a major piece with no compensation — or facing inevitable checkmate, continuing the game serves little purpose. Acknowledging a lost position is considered good sportsmanship and a sign of respect toward the opponent.
In practice, knowing when to resign is a skill in itself. Many beginners hold on too long in objectively lost positions, hoping for a blunder from the opponent. Conversely, some players resign too early, before exploring a defensive resource or a possible trap. A useful guideline: if you can see no realistic counterplay and the loss is unavoidable with correct play, resignation is the rational decision.