What extend do tectonic plates determine the location of earthquakes?

Tectonic plates play a crucial role in determining the location of earthquakes, as most seismic activity occurs along plate boundaries where stress builds up due to their movement. These boundaries can be divergent, convergent, or transform, each producing different types of earthquakes. When the stress exceeds the strength of rocks along these faults, it results in an earthquake. Thus, regions near plate boundaries are more seismically active compared to those located in the interiors of tectonic plates.