The change in state from a vapour to a liquid or a solid accompanied by the release of energy known as the heat of condensation, which has the same magnitude as the heat of vaporization at the same temperature. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation. The direct change in state from a vapour to a solid phase is called deposition.
A vapour may condense on a cold surface by either film condensation in which condensate forms a continuous layer of liquid that flows over the surface, or dropwise condensation in which condensate forms at nucleation sites where droplets tend to coalesce and may form into rivulets that flow under the influence of gravity. Although dropwise condensation is associated with higher transfer coefficients, it is difficult to maintain in practical situations.