Water is formed through a covalent bond, specifically polar covalent bonds. In a water molecule (H2O), each hydrogen atom shares electrons with the oxygen atom. The oxygen atom is more electronegative, which means it attracts the shared electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms do. This creates a partial negative charge near the oxygen and a partial positive charge near the hydrogens.
This polar nature of the water molecule leads to unique properties, such as high surface tension and the ability to dissolve many substances, making water a universal solvent. In contrast, ionic bonds, like those seen in table salt (NaCl), involve the complete transfer of electrons and the formation of charged ions, which is not the case in water.