These two personality types are opposites — introverts focus inward, into their own thoughts, and extroverts focus outward, into the world. But don't get too excited; most people are a little bit of both.
Introverts are mostly concerned with what's going on inside their own heads, so an introvert is a quiet person who likes people but doesn't feel the need to go to parties every night. In fact, nightly parties would be decidedly un-fun for an introvert. Introverts are often but not always shy. Don't be shy about reading these examples:
"He could be an introvert but was also funny, sharp, observant, and spoke with piercing accuracy." (The Guardian)
"The first original song she released was 'Here' — an ‘introvert's anthem' about feeling alienated at a house party." (BBC)
Let's have a party for the extroverts! They'll all be there. Extroverts pay more attention to what's going on around them than what is in their heads. They love to get out and about. If the phone rings, an extrovert can't wait to answer it. Ring ring! Here are some examples:
"They tend to be extroverts and love getting attention from others." (Salon)
"The archetypal extrovert prefers action to contemplation, risk- taking to heed-taking, certainty to doubt." (Forbes)
Though different, introverts and extroverts hang out all the time, even in these bits from the news:
"Extroverts who promote themselves and introverts who keep their heads down are paid the same for jobs of the same value to the company." (New York Times)
"Introverts prefer much less stimulating environments than extroverts." (US News)
So, if we pretend we're batteries, introverts recharge alone, but extroverts get energy from other people. If you get them mixed up, remember that introverts turn inward and extroverts like external action.