Law is the set of rules that are created by the state in order to ensure a peaceful society. This is enforced through various mechanisms and sanctions are imposed if these rules are broken. The law also helps to avoid any potential conflicts of interests and provides a way to resolve them. There are many definitions of the law, but the main concept is that it is a framework that governs human behavior in a society.

Unlike other sciences, such as natural science (as in the law of gravity) or social science (such as the laws of demand and supply in economics), law is normative rather than descriptive. This gives it an extra dimension, in that it prescribes what ought to be done rather than simply explaining how things are. This makes it a peculiar form of knowledge and a topic of wide-ranging scholarly inquiry, including legal history, philosophy, sociology, political science, economic analysis and theology.

The earliest laws were created by primitive societies to govern their own territory. As civilizations developed, they began to develop written laws in order to deal with issues that could not be addressed otherwise, such as property rights, crime, justice and marriage. These laws helped to establish a more ordered society and were enforced through the creation of systems such as police and courts.

As civilizations continued to evolve, law became a more complex and specialized discipline. Eventually it was created in different countries in order to address specific needs of the citizens. Law was used to regulate everything from marriage and divorce to the granting of patents. These laws were created through a process of trial and error as society tried to find the best ways to manage its resources and ensure peace.

Nowadays, laws are largely written and enforced by the government. While this can help to maintain a stable society, it can also create problems if people disagree about the interpretation of certain laws. The government has to balance the needs of the citizen with the need to protect its own interests and that of other nations.

While the law tries to ensure that everyone has a level playing field, there are some instances where it cannot completely achieve this goal. For example, there are limitations on the type of activities that can be undertaken by a person due to physical restrictions or mental disabilities. However, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is an attempt to make sure that these people are not discriminated against by employers, transportation companies and other organizations.

Other societal goals that the law can be used to achieve include maintaining a safe environment, providing compensation for people who have been harmed through no fault of their own and helping to prevent social disorders. This is achieved through a range of laws including tort law, civil rights and criminal law. Civil rights laws protect people who are unable to protect themselves from abuse and other ills while criminal law deals with offenses against the government or community as a whole.