Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Probing star formation -- 3. The ISM: the beginnings of star formation -- 4. Molecular clouds: the sites of star formation -- 5. Fragmentation and collapse: the road to star formation -- 6. Young stars, protostars and accretion: building a typical star -- 7. The formation of high-mass stars, and their surroundings -- 8. By-products and consequences of star formation.