Which of the following accurately describes a covalent bond?

A covalent bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons between two atoms. This occurs Typically between nonmetal atoms, where each atom has a tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a full outer shell of electrons, following the octet rule. By sharing one or more pairs of electrons, the atoms are able to bond together more stably, as they effectively fill their valence shells, leading to the formation of a molecule.

In contrast to this bonding type, other options describe different kinds of interactions: the transfer of electrons pertains to ionic bonding, which involves the complete transfer of electrons resulting in oppositely charged ions; the attraction between a cation and an anion refers specifically to the strong electrostatic forces in ionic compounds; and the interaction between two positive ions describes repulsion, not bonding, as they do not combine to form a stable structure. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why shared electrons define covalent bonding.