What determines the life stages a star will go through?

The life stages a star will go through are primarily determined by its initial mass and composition. More massive stars have shorter lifespans and progress through more rapid and complex evolutionary stages, ultimately leading to supernovae and potentially forming neutron stars or black holes. Conversely, lower-mass stars, like our Sun, evolve more slowly, eventually becoming red giants and then shedding their outer layers to form planetary nebulae, leaving behind white dwarfs. Additionally, factors like metallicity can influence a star's evolution and lifespan.