Structural functionalism is a major theoretical perspective in sociology that is rooted in the work of Émile Durkheim and further developed by Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton. This perspective analyses societies as complex social systems composed of various interconnected social institutions (such as the family, education, religion, government, and the economy), each of which performs specific functions that contribute to the overall stability, order, and smooth operation of the system as a whole. Structural functionalists examine how these institutions work together to meet the needs of society and maintain social equilibrium through shared norms, values, and consensus. They often focus on the functions (both manifest and latent) of social structures and how they contribute to social cohesion and the maintenance of social order.