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In string music, pizzicato and arco are two fundamental playing techniques:

Pizzicato (Italian for "plucked', pizzi.) means plucking the string with a finger instead of using the bow. This creates a short, percussive sound.

Arco (Italian for "bowed") means playing with the bow. This is the standard way of playing the violin, viola, cello, and bass. It produces a smooth and sustained sound.

How are they used in music:
Pizzicato is often used to add texture, rhythmic interest, or a light, bouncing effect in a piece.
Arco is used for lyrical, expressive melodies and sustained harmonies.

Composers sometimes switch between these techniques for contrast, with "pizz." marking the start of pizzicato passages and "arco" indicating a return to bowing.

Some famous examples:

Tchaikovsky’s "Nutcracker" (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) – uses delicate pizzicato.
Bartók’s "String Quartets" – feature "Bartók pizzicato," where the string is plucked so hard it snaps against the fingerboard.
Mahler’s symphonies – frequently alternate between arco and pizzicato for dramatic effect.