A thermodynamic process changes a thermodynamic system between states. A quasistatic process supplies equilibrium intermediate states and therefore a path on equilibrium coordinates. An irreversible thermodynamic process can have equilibrium endpoints while lacking a uniform intermediate temperature or pressure. Endpoint values still determine changes in a state function; computing heat and work requires the actual interaction history.
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A thermodynamic process is a sequence of changes that a thermodynamic system undergoes in terms of its state variables, which include properties like temperature, pressure, volume, and entropy. During a thermodynamic process, the system exchanges energy with its surroundings, typically in the form of heat and work. The nature of these exchanges and the paths taken can greatly influence the characteristics of the process.