Strider is the name used by Aragorn, the ranger who becomes a central hero in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbits first meet Strider at the Prancing Pony in Bree. He appears to be a mysterious and weathered ranger, but he is actually Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor and descendant of Isildur.
Aragorn’s identity is important because his personal journey is connected to the political future of Men. He protects the Hobbits, joins the Fellowship, and eventually accepts his heritage and kingship. His royal name as king is Elessar.
Strider is therefore a nickname or traveling name, not a separate character. Tolkien uses the contrast between the rough ranger and the hidden heir to develop one of the book’s major themes: identity revealed through courage and responsibility.