What is the difference between a direct quote and a paraphrase?

A direct quote is when you use the exact words or phrase from a source and attribute them to the original author. It is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that it is not your own words. On the other hand, a paraphrase is when you restate someone else's ideas or information in your own words while still giving credit to the original author. Paraphrases do not require quotation marks but still necessitate proper citation to avoid plagiarism.