Continuation bet (c-bet)
Also called cbet
A continuation bet (c-bet) is when the player who bet or raised before the flop keeps the pressure on by betting again on the flop.
The idea is simple: you took the lead before the flop, so you follow through with another bet after the community cards come down, whether or not the flop actually helped your hand. It's one of the most common moves in Texas Hold'em because the player who raised first usually looks the strongest, and that story stays believable on most flops.
This comes up right after the flop, when the action gets to you and you were the last aggressor before the flop. You can c-bet for value when you've got a strong hand and want calls, or as a bluff (often a semi-bluff with a draw) to push opponents off weak hands. Betting roughly a third to two-thirds of the pot is typical, and consistent sizing keeps people from reading whether you're strong or bluffing.
A beginner-friendly note: you don't have to c-bet every single time. It works best against one opponent and on flops that fit the hand you showed before the flop. If three or four players called, or the board clearly connected with their range, it's often fine to check instead and save your chips.
Example
You raise pre-flop with A-K and one player calls; the flop comes K-7-2. You fire a c-bet of about half the pot to charge weaker kings and draws, continuing the strength you showed before the flop.