Tickets or citations are sometimes given to a defendant instead of going through the process of taking you to jail, fingerprinting you and taking your mug shot. If you are issued a ticket for a misdemeanor, that is considered an arrest.
You are required to show up in court for your arraignment on the date and time noted on the citation. Failure to appear can result in a criminal charge and the issuing of a bench warrant for your arrest.
If you are taken to jail and charged with a misdemeanor it is often possible to post bond and be released from jail within a few hours. If you do not have enough money with you to post your bond you can use your one phone call to contact someone who can post it for you.
If you are charged with a felony you will have to stay in jail until the judge sets your bond at the arraignment, which is usually within 24 hours unless you are arrested on the weekend when court is not in session.
The purpose of a bond is to insure that you will appear at your next court date. If you do not appear the bond money will be forfeited, a warrant will be issued for your arrest and you will receive the additional charge of Failure to Appear.