Is there a difference between “assault” and “battery?”

“Assault” and “battery” usually are stated together. “Assault” is the intention to cause harm but not causing the harm, “battery” is when someone is struck. An “Assault” is an attempt to hit someone, “battery” is when the person is hit. 

So, in an “Assault & battery” the “battery” could be where someone’s struck with someone’s fist or with a weapon, it could be a bullet, anything like that. The “assault” is trying to harm someone, putting someone in fear that they’re going to be harmed right now. “Battery” is the successful carrying out of that intention. 

In other words, if someone swung something at you, like a club, and you were hit with it, the swinging of it is an “assault” and if they miss, that’s just an “assault” but if they hit you that’s an “assault & battery.”