What are the differences between privity of contract and law of agency?

Privity of contract refers to the direct relationship between parties involved in a contract, meaning only those parties have rights and obligations under that contract. In contrast, the law of agency involves a relationship where one party (the agent) is authorized to act on behalf of another party (the principal) in transactions with third parties. While privity focuses on the contractual obligations between the contracting parties, agency deals with the authority and responsibilities of agents representing principals. Essentially, privity is about contractual relationships, whereas agency is about representation and authority in transactions.