Why does sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid neutralize each other and form salt and water?

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base, and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid. When they react, they undergo a neutralization reaction where the hydroxide ion (OH-) from NaOH combines with the hydrogen ion (H+) from HCl to form water (H2O). The remaining ions, Na+ and Cl-, form salt (NaCl).