foreword
introductory section / preface / introduction
Noun
pl: forewords
A foreword serves as a professional endorsement or a contextual bridge between the author and the reader. It is typically penned by a third party—often a recognized expert or a peer—to lend authority, prestige, or a specific perspective to the work before the main text begins. This term is distinct from a preface, which is written by the author themselves to explain the book's origin or purpose. While both appear at the start of a volume, the foreword focuses on the external validation of the work rather than the internal process of its creation.