Law is a system of rules developed and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. It can be enacted by a legislative body, resulting in statutes, or by the executive branch of government through decrees and regulations. It can also be established by the judiciary through judicial precedent, normally in common law jurisdictions.
The precise definition of law is a matter of long-standing debate. It is a complex concept to discuss, since it contains normative statements of a prescriptive nature—that is, it tells people how they should behave. This distinguishes it from laws of a descriptive or causal character, such as the law of gravity.
There are four primary purposes of law: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights. The first two goals are interrelated; for example, standards of behaviour may be set to prevent conflicts.
In some countries, law is codified into legal codes to make it easier for the public and judges to understand. This is a move away from the splintered law of individual jurisdictions and towards an overall system of rules that is interpreted and applied through a process of case law.
There are many different types of law. For example, there is contract law, property law, tort law, and criminal law. Another area of law is international law, which covers issues such as space law and trade agreements. There are also fields of law that deal with particular kinds of business agreements and relationships, such as company law and labour law.