The rate of star formation varies between galaxy types and evolves with redshift. Most stars in the universe have formed in episodes of an exceptionally high star-forming activity, commonly called a starburst. We here summarize basic definitions and general properties of starbursts, together with their observational signatures.We overviewthe main types of starburst galaxies both in the local universe and at high redshift, where they were much more common. We specify similarities and differences between the local and distant samples and specify the possible evolutionary links. We describe the role of starburst galaxies in the era of cosmic reionization, relying on the most recent observational results.

Written for an ERASMUS textbook editted by P. Kabath, D. Jones and M. Skarka