The Protagonist is the principal character of a story.
Usually The Hero, but not always. Beyond any and all other traits, whether they are a
Villain Protagonist,
The Hero, or simply an
Innocent Bystander, and whatever the story's POV may be, you can generally tell who the protagonist is because the story is
about them. This is present in pretty much all fiction, making it an
Omnipresent Tropes.
Compare and contrast
The Antagonist, who is equally important because they oppose the actions of the protagonist. Also see
Deuteragonist, the other character whom the story is about, but to a lesser extent than the protagonist; in other words, a secondary main character.
