How do note values and rests determine a rhythmic pattern?

In music, rhythm is the organization of sounds in time, defined by patterns of duration that occur within a steady beat. Note values and rests are the fundamental building blocks that determine these rhythmic patterns by establishing the relative lengths of sounds and silences.1

• Note Values: These symbols indicate the duration of a sound. In modern Western music, the shape of a note—such as a whole, half, quarter, eighth, or sixteenth note—specifies how long it is held relative to others. Their exact duration is often governed by the time signature, which dictates how many beats are in a measure and which note value receives one beat.21
• Rests: These represent periods of silence. Like notes, rests have specific values that contribute to the overall rhythmic structure by creating gaps between sounds.1

By combining these varying lengths of sound and silence, composers create a recurring sequence of durations, known as a rhythmic pattern, which gives music its flow and character.