How are electromagnetic waves different from other types of waves, and why are electromagnetic waves classified as transverse waves?

Electromagnetic waves are different from other types of waves because they do not require a medium to travel through, unlike sound waves which need a medium like air or water. Electromagnetic waves are classified as transverse waves because their oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of their propagation. This means that the electric and magnetic fields in electromagnetic waves vibrate at right angles to the direction the wave is moving.