Describe the life cycle of a typical Cnidarian?

Cnidarians include freshwater Hydrazoans, jellyfish or
Scyphozoa, Anthozoa which are sea anenomes and coral animals and Cubozoa or box jellies.
Cnidarians contain two layers of epithelial cells with a mesoglea or jelly-like layer
in between. They have an oral cavity or mouth with tentacles around it. These have
Cnidoblasts or stinging cells with tiny harpoon like structures. Most Cnidarians are
predators of plankton, fish and other animals and their stinging cells use a toxin to
paralyze the prey so that they can ingest them via their mouth. Most Cnidarians live a
sessile lifestyle in the polyp phase. As long as nutrients are plentiful, they live and
thrive attached to the substrate. Sometimes, they may even form a bud, which can break
off and grow independently. This is a form of asexual reproduction. Another part of
their life cycle includes the sexual or Medusa stage. In this stage, free-swimming male
and female jellyfish, release sperm and eggs into the water, where external
fertilization occurs. Eventually, the larvae that results will find a place to settle
down and the sessile part of the life cycle will begin. They alternate between a sessile
or polyp stage, and a free-swimming or Medusa stage.