What does long-read sequencing mean?

Long-read sequencing is a type of next-generation sequencing (NGS) that involves generating reads with much longer lengths, ranging from a few thousand bases to hundreds of thousands of bases. Long-read sequencers are capable of sequencing long DNA or RNA strands in one go, without breaking them up into smaller fragments. The longer reads make it easier for researchers to identify complex structural variations such as duplications, inversions, repeats, translocations, insertions, and deletions.