The most common way of breaking the fourth wall is through direct address or acknowledgment of the audience. This occurs when a character in a play, movie, or TV show directly speaks to or interacts with the audience, acknowledging their presence as viewers. By doing so, the character breaks the illusion of the fictional world and reminds the audience that they are watching a performance.
Direct address can take various forms, such as a character looking directly into the camera and speaking to the audience, making witty remarks or commentary, or sharing their thoughts and feelings. This technique often adds a comedic or self-aware element to the scene, creating a sense of connection between the fictional world and the viewers.
It's worth noting that breaking the fourth wall can also be achieved through other means, such as characters referencing the fact that they are in a work of fiction, commenting on the plot or structure of the story, or addressing the medium itself. However, direct address is the most common and straightforward way of breaking the fourth wall.