What distinguishes independent claims from dependent claims in a patent application?

Independent claims are fundamental to a patent because they define the invention in its broadest terms, allowing it to stand alone. They do not require any supporting claims to clarify their meaning or scope. Dependent claims, on the other hand, provide specific details and limitations that build upon and reference the broader independent claims. This structure allows dependent claims to rely on the validity and foundation established by the independent claims, while also adding specificity to the invention.

By design, this hierarchy of claims serves to enhance the robustness of the patent application, as it allows patent applicants to seek protection for both broader inventions (through independent claims) and more specific variations or embodiments (through dependent claims). Therefore, the correct answer reflects the critical relationship in which dependent claims depend on and specify elements of independent claims.