What is the smallest prime number?

The smallest prime number is 2, which is significant because it is the only even prime number. A prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. Since 2 can only be divided evenly by 1 and 2, it meets the criteria for being prime. The other numbers mentioned, such as 0 and 1, do not qualify as prime numbers because 0 is not a natural number and 1 does not meet the requirement of having two distinct divisors. The number 3 is indeed a prime number, but it is greater than 2, making 2 the smallest in the set of prime numbers.