The system used for classifying living organisms is called taxonomy. This scientific discipline organizes life forms into hierarchical categories based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. The main taxonomic ranks include domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The system was pioneered by Carl Linnaeus, who introduced a binomial nomenclature for naming species, assigning each a two-part latinized name consisting of its genus and species. Taxonomy is essential for biological classification, enabling scientists to communicate about and study the vast diversity of life on Earth.