In mobile communication, handover (or handoff) refers to the process of transferring an ongoing call or data session from one cell or base station to another without interrupting the communication. There are several types of handovers, each with its significance:

  1. Hard Handover (Break-Before-Make):
    In a hard handover, the connection to the current cell is broken before the new connection is established. This type is common in systems like GSM. It is simple but may cause a brief interruption in service.

  2. Soft Handover (Make-Before-Break):
    In soft handover, the mobile device maintains connections to both the current and the new base stations simultaneously during the transition. This is typical in CDMA-based systems, offering seamless handoff with no service interruption.

  3. Soft-Blocking Handover:
    This is a variation of soft handover, where the mobile device temporarily maintains connection with two base stations, but one connection may be dropped if conditions change.

  4. Handover Between Different Networks (Inter-System Handover):
    This type of handover occurs between different network technologies, such as from 4G to 5G or from Wi-Fi to cellular, ensuring continuous service as the user moves between different networks.

Each handover type is crucial for ensuring continuous, uninterrupted mobile communication as users move through different coverage areas.