What is the difference between a direct flight and a non-stop flight?

A direct flight is a flight that may have one or more stops, but does not require passengers to change aircraft. On the other hand, a non-stop flight goes directly from the origin to the destination without any stops or layovers.

For example, if you take a direct flight from New York to Los Angeles with a layover in Chicago, you will board the plane in New York and stay on the same plane until you arrive in Los Angeles, even though the plane may make a stop in Chicago to pick up or drop off passengers. However, if you take a non-stop flight from New York to Los Angeles, you will not make any stops and will remain on the same plane throughout the entire journey.