The strength of an acid refers to its ability or tendency to lose a proton (H+) or deprotonation.
A strong acid is one that completely ionizes (dissociates) in a solution. In water, one mole of a strong acid HA dissolves yielding one mole of H+ (as hydronium ion H3O+) and one mole of the conjugate base, A−. Essentially, none of the non-ionized acid HA remains. Examples of strong acid are hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydroiodic acid (HI), hydrobromic acid (HBr), perchloric acid (HClO4), nitric acid (HNO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4). In aqueous solution, each of these essentially ionizes 100%.
In contrast, a weak acid only partially dissociates. Examples in water include carbonic acid (H2CO3) and acetic acid (CH3COOH).