Billiards is a term used to describe a variety of games played on a rectangular table with a designated number of small balls and a long stick called a cue. The term "billiards" originally referred to a game called "carom billiards" exclusively, but it has since evolved into a general term to describe a variety of games played on a table with balls and a cue stick. The most popular types of billiards games include:

• Carom Billiards: Also known as carambole billiards, this is a cue sport where the player strikes the billiard balls, moving them around the table. The biggest distinction is when the table is bounded by cushions. In the game of billiards, there are only three balls used.

• Pool: This is a game played on a table with six pockets. You need 15 balls, but some people play with just nine. The most popular types of pool games include eight-ball, nine-ball, and straight pool.

• Snooker: This is a game played with 22 balls, including a white ball known as the "striker" ball. The other balls used are fifteen red balls, and one each of yellow, brown, blue, pink, black, and green. Each ball is 2 1/16 inches in diameter.

English billiards is another type of billiards game that combines the aspects of carom billiards and pool. It is played on a billiards table with the same dimensions as one used for snooker and points are scored for cannons and pocketing the balls.

In summary, billiards is a term used to describe a variety of games played on a rectangular table with a designated number of small balls and a long stick called a cue. The most popular types of billiards games include carom billiards, pool, and snooker.