What do we call the area where one plate slides horizontally past another?

The area where one tectonic plate slides horizontally past another is known as transform boundaries. In these regions, the friction between the plates can lead to earthquakes, as the stress builds up until it is released. The movement at transform boundaries is mainly lateral, meaning the plates move side by side relative to each other, without the generation of new crust or the subduction of existing crust, which distinguishes them from other types of boundaries. This understanding is crucial in the field of geology and helps in assessing earthquake risks and understanding tectonic processes.

Divergent boundaries refer to areas where two plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust. Convergent boundaries involve one plate being forced under another, leading to subduction zones, which can result in intense geological activity but differ fundamentally in their mechanics from transform boundaries. Subduction zones are specifically associated with convergent boundaries where an oceanic plate is pushed beneath a continental plate, resulting in different geological features and processes compared to those at transform boundaries.