When you define a LitElement component, you create a JavaScript class that extends the LitElement base class. The class structure typically includes a static properties getter or object to declare reactive properties. These properties allow your component to accept input and update automatically when their values change. In the provided example, the name property is declared as a string, and its default value is set in the constructor.

The render() method is a special function in every LitElement component. Its main role is to return an HTML template—using the html tagged template literal—that defines the component's visible structure. Whenever a property changes, LitElement automatically calls render() again to update the DOM with the new state.

Finally, you must register your custom element with the browser using customElements.define, passing the tag name and the class. This step makes your component available as a new HTML element that you can use in your pages.