What do two dots under a musical note mean?

Two dots placed under a musical note or rest (staccato dots) indicate that the note or rest should be shortened by half of its original duration.

Notes with staccato dots are played short, detached from the following note, and with slight emphasis.

For example, a quarter note with two dots should be played as if it is an eighth note, and half note with two dots should be played as if it is a quarter note.

Here is a visual representation of the difference in length between a note without dots and a note with two dots:

Notes:

- Without Dots: _ _

- With Two Dots: . .