What is a smart thermostat and how does it work?

I've lived in New England for six years now, which means two things: I've learned to never call Tom Brady overrated, and I've learned the importance of having a thermostat that actually works. If you live in an old home or apartment like me, you likely have a bulky thermostat with supposedly programmable settings that mostly work, but don't do much for actually regulating temperature reliably. Or you've got a clunky dial that allows you to manually change the temperature, but only when physically standing in front of it. Naturally, there's been a surge in the market for people hunting for better ways to control their home environment. If you're looking for a sleek and easy way to upgrade your home's temperature controls, you've likely already started researching smart thermostats.