A food web is a complex network of multiple feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, indicating how energy and nutrients circulate. In contrast, a food chain is a linear sequence that illustrates the direct path of energy transfer from one trophic level to another, starting from a producer and moving up to primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers. While food chains are simpler and depict a singular pathway, food webs provide a more realistic view of ecological interactions and the interconnectedness of life.