What form of punctuation breaks up the sentence with potentially longer less essential bits information?

The punctuation mark that breaks up a sentence with potentially longer, less essential bits of information is the parenthesis ( ).

Parentheses are used to enclose information that is supplemental or clarifying to the main point of the sentence. They are often used for:

* Explanations or definitions: "The company's profits (which were higher than expected) exceeded last year's figures."

* Additional details: "The meeting will be held on Tuesday (February 21st) at 10:00 AM."

* Asides or comments: "He was a talented musician (though a little shy) and a gifted artist."

Note: Dashes (-) and commas (,) can sometimes be used for similar purposes, but parentheses are generally preferred for longer, less essential information.