Necroptosis is a regulated form of necrotic cell death that exhibits characteristics of both apoptosis and necrosis. Unlike traditional passive necrosis, necroptosis is a controlled cell death process primarily mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), and executed by mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). This process is typically activated when apoptotic pathways are blocked or during pathogen infections, ultimately leading to cell membrane rupture and the release of cellular contents, triggering an inflammatory response.