How do tides and currents shape the coastline of a sandy beach?

Sandy beaches are constantly being reshaped by the interaction of tides, waves, and longshore currents. When waves hit the shore at an angle, they move sand along the coast in a process called longshore drift. Tides also shift the waterline twice a day, exposing and covering large areas of sand. Storms can remove sand quickly, while calmer periods may rebuild beaches through deposition. This makes coastlines dynamic landscapes that can change noticeably over seasons or years.