How does pocket billiards differ from carom billiards?

Pocket billiards and carom billiards differ primarily in their table design and objective:

• Table Design: Carom billiards is played on a table without pockets, whereas pocket billiards (often called pool) is played on a table featuring six pockets—one at each corner and one at the midpoint of each long side.123
• Equipment: Carom billiards uses three balls (two white and one red), while pocket billiards typically uses 16 balls (a white cue ball and 15 numbered object balls).123
• Objective: In carom billiards, the goal is to drive the cue ball so that it strikes both object balls in succession to score a point. In pocket billiards, the objective is to drive the object balls into the pockets according to specific game rules, such as pocketing a designated number of balls or specific targets like the 8-ball or 9-ball.1423

While both games utilize a cue stick and a cloth-topped, cushion-railed table, their distinct mechanics and scoring methods define them as separate categories within the broader group of billiards games.34