Structural geology is the study of the architecture and processes of Earth's crustal deformation. There are several synonymous terms that are used to describe the same branch of science. These include tectonics, rock mechanics, geomechanics, and geotectonics. Tectonics focuses on understanding the movement and deformation of large-scale geological features such as mountain ranges and plate boundaries. In contrast, rock mechanics and geomechanics deal with the mechanical properties and behavior of rocks under stress. Geotectonics combines both the tectonic and geologic aspects, whereas structural geology specifically focuses on the analysis of rock deformation patterns and structures. All these terms essentially describe the same discipline, but with some minor differences in emphasis and scope.