What defines the region known as the asteroid belt?

The asteroid belt is primarily characterized as a vast collection of rocky and metallic bodies. Located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, this region contains millions of asteroids, which vary in size from small rocks to dwarf planets. The formation of the asteroid belt is linked to the solar system's development, where the gravitational influence of Jupiter prevented these rocky materials from coalescing into a larger planet. Consequently, the asteroid belt serves as a significant source of information about the early solar system and the building blocks from which planets formed. This focus on rocky and metallic bodies distinguishes it from regions populated by icy comets, gas giants, or stars, which do not define the asteroid belt.