What does purcursor mean?

The term "precursor" refers to something that comes before another thing and often serves as a forerunner or initial stage. In various contexts, it can denote an early form of a substance or idea that leads to the development of something more advanced or complex. Precursors are important in fields like science, where they can indicate earlier chemical compounds that lead to new products, or in literature, where they may describe themes or styles that influence later works.