Probation is a period of time that the court puts an individual on to have personnel of probation supervise that individual. There are general conditions of probation which include to not commit any new crimes, which include to report to probation when you are told to do so, which require the individual to remain living at the same place and working at the same location.
There can also be special conditions of probation. In drug cases it may be drug education. In a crime where a victim is involved it may be the payment of restitution but those can be added as special conditions of probation so probation is that time period where an individual has to comply with the courts special orders to accomplish certain things as a form of punishment.