Transparency and translucency are optical properties describing how a material interacts with visible light. A transparent material permits light to pass through without significant scattering or absorption, allowing objects on the opposite side to be viewed clearly. In contrast, a translucent material allows light to pass through, but the internal structure of the material scatters and diffuses the light rays. This diffusion prevents a clear view, causing the material to appear milky or hazy, even though light is still passing through it. These characteristics are governed by the material's chemical composition and its internal microstructure, which dictate the degree of light scattering and absorption.