Sugar is a generic term for a class of sweet-flavored substances, primarily carbohydrates, that are commonly used in food and beverages to impart sweetness.

The most common and well-known type of sugar is sucrose, which is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. However, the term "sugar" is often used more broadly to include various other sugars such as fructose, glucose, lactose, and maltose.

This is the most common type of sugar and is often extracted from sugarcane or sugar beets. It is a white, crystalline substance with a sweet taste. Found in many carbohydrates, glucose is a simple sugar that serves as a primary source of energy for the body.

It is often used in medical settings and can be found in certain food products. A sweetener made from corn, high-fructose corn syrup is commonly used in processed foods and beverages as a less expensive alternative to sucrose. Composed of two glucose molecules, maltose is often found in malted foods and beverages.