Is water ionic or covalent?

Ionic bond:

Forms when one atom transfers electron(s) to another. The donor becomes a cation (+) and the acceptor becomes an anion (−). Opposite charges attract, creating the bond. Ionic bonding typically occurs between atoms with a large electronegativity difference (e.g., NaCl: Na → donates; Cl → accepts).

Covalent bond:

Forms when two atoms share electron pairs. In a perfectly covalent bond the atoms have equal (or very similar) electronegativities, so the shared electrons sit midway. If one atom is more electronegative, the shared pair is pulled slightly toward it, giving the bond a polar character.

Water example:

In H₂O, oxygen and hydrogen share electrons—so water is a covalent (specifically, polar covalent) molecule. Oxygen’s higher electronegativity gives partial negative charge on O and partial positive charges on the H atoms.