In a criminal trial, who is typically the plaintiff?

In a criminal trial, the plaintiff is typically the state, which represents the interests of the public. Criminal cases are prosecuted by government officials, such as district attorneys or prosecutors, who act on behalf of the state or the people. The state seeks to uphold laws and maintain social order by enforcing criminal statutes. Therefore, in this context, the state is the entity bringing the case against the defendant, who is accused of a crime. This reflects the principle that crimes are offenses against society as a whole, not just individual victims, which is different from civil cases where private citizens or businesses may initiate lawsuits.