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How does titanium’s oxide film protect it from corrosion?

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A periodic table element tile for titanium displays its atomic number 22, symbol Ti, atomic weight 47.867, electron configuration, and name. Icons indicate it is a solid, transition metal with a hexagonal crystal structure and equal relative strength. — titanium Properties of titanium.

Titanium possesses excellent corrosion-resistance in many environments due to the formation of a passive oxide surface film. This film is relatively inert chemically, which protects the underlying metal from further degradation when exposed to most natural environments.12

Because of this protective layer, the metal remains remarkably durable; for instance, no noticeable corrosion occurs even after years of exposure to seawater. This unique property, combined with its high strength and low density, makes titanium an essential material for demanding applications in aircraft, spacecraft, and ships, as well as in prosthetic devices where it remains unreactive with bone and tissue.1