Social structure refers to the underlying patterns of social relationships, institutions, and social organisation that shape and constrain individuals' behaviour and interactions within a society, providing a framework for social life. It is the way in which a society is organised into predictable relationships and hierarchies based on factors such as social class, gender, race, ethnicity, age, and social institutions like the family, education, government, and the economy. Social structure is not always immediately visible but exerts a powerful influence on individuals' opportunities, experiences, and life chances. Sociologists study social structure to understand the enduring patterns of social behaviour and the ways in which society is organised at a macro level.