How does a sonata typically combine a solo instrument with a piano?

In the context of chamber music, a sonata for a solo instrument and piano typically functions as a collaborative work where the two instruments share musical material, rather than one simply accompanying the other.12

Historically, this evolved from the Baroque practice of basso continuo, where a keyboard instrument improvised harmonies over a bass line. As the piano superseded the harpsichord in the late 18th century, the keyboard's role shifted from an accompanying tool to a dominant partner. By the Classical period and beyond, the piano and the solo instrument (such as a violin, flute, or cello) often engage in a balanced dialogue.132

In these compositions, the instruments may:
* Share themes through antiphony (alternating phrases).4
* Perform in dialogue, where phrases from one part recur in the other.2
* Combine to create a unified texture, often structured in two to four movements that follow principles of sonata form.562