Railway stations can be classified according to their operational and functional characteristics. Operationally, stations are classified as block or non-block stations. Block stations require trains to obtain permission to proceed into the next block section, and are further divided into A, B, and C class stations based on signaling and safety requirements. Functionally, stations can be way-side (non-junction), junction, terminal, or halt stations. Way-side stations are small stations along a route, junction stations are where lines diverge, terminal stations are where lines end, and halt stations are temporary stops.