Law is a set of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. It can be based on religious precepts such as the Jewish Halakha or Islamic Sharia, or it may be derived through human elaboration such as jurisprudence, Qiyas (reasoning by analogy), Ijma (consensus), and precedent. Legal systems vary from country to country, although they do share some similarities based on historically accepted justice ideals.
Regardless of the system used, a law can serve several important goals: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting individual rights. In a society without laws, it is impossible to enforce property ownership or protect individuals from harm. The laws of a society also provide guidance for navigating complex situations. For example, if two people both claim to own the same piece of land, they can submit their claims to a court to resolve the dispute.
The precise definition of law varies from person to person. The most common definition is a set of rules that governs the actions of an individual or group. The most important elements of a law are that it is binding and that it is applied equally to all individuals. In addition, the law must be clearly defined so that it is easy to read and understand. It must be easily enforceable so that it can be enforced by courts, judges, and other government officials. The law must also be able to change with the times so that it is responsive to new needs and problems.