Staccato
A dot above or below a note tells you to play it short and detached.
This should not be confused with a dot after a note which alters its value. Short, detached, jumpy notes are called staccato.
Listen to the two examples below to hear how the same notes sound when played without and with accents.
Listen to the two examples below to hear how the same notes sound when played normally and staccato.
No staccato
Staccato