Continuous functions are directly related to limits; a function \\(f(x)\\) is continuous at a point \\(a\\) if the limit of \\(f(x)\\) as \\(x\\) approaches \\(a\\) is equal to \\(f(a)\\). This means the function's value at \\(a\\) and its limit as it approaches \\(a\\) are the same.