Rock climbing is the sport or activity of climbing sheer rock faces, especially by means of specialized techniques and equipment. Listed below are the common forms of climbing with brief, general descriptions.

CLIMBING CATEGORIES

Traditional Style:
The style of rock climbing in which a gear is used to protect the climber. This gear can consist of natural protection, eg. trees, bushes, and other protrusions, and other manufactured gear which usually consists of cams, stoppers, and various slings which are used to attach the rope to the climb in various increments.
Sport Climbing:
The style of rock climbing where fixed gear is used to protect the climber. Fixed gear can include pitons, which are hammered into cracks and weaknesses in the rock, and expansion bolts which have been inserted into drilled holes in the rock.
Ice Climbing:
The stlyle of climbing which takes place on frozen waterfalls and any rock-cliff surface which has had water freeze over it. Specialized tools are necessary to climb and protect ice.
Mountaineering:
A more moderate style of climbing which basically describe the art of cliimbing mountains. In this form hiking is just as likely to take place as scaling rock.
Aid Climbing:
A very specialized form of rock climbing where progession up rock wall is made my using gear. The climber will actually hook gear into the wall and pull up on the gear rather than climb the rock under their own power and use the gear to protect against a fall.
Bouldering:
Perhaps the newest form of climbing to gain popularity. This style is the most simplistic in that no ropes or gear are necessary other than climbing shoes, chalk, bouldering pads, and preferrably some partners to assist in "spotting" the climber.
Spelunking:
The term used to describe the sport of cave exploring. Much of the same gear used in rock climbing is employed in spelunking but the progression is usually downward into the depth's of caves.
Canyoneering:
The style of descending canyons, mainly found in Souther Utah, which often involves the navigation of water falls and steep down-climbing on varying terrain.