What does the “habitable zone” around a star mean?

The “habitable zone” around a star means the area where conditions might be just right for liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface—not too hot and not too cold. Planets inside this zone could be more likely to support life like we know on Earth. The distance of the habitable zone can change depending on how bright or hot the star is. Astronomers search for exoplanets within the habitable zone to find places where life could possibly exist.